Muzumdar recollects: A cake was cut to celebrate Sachin's dismissal

Once we reached a final, there was no way we could lose. But at the Shivaji Park Gymkhana, we lost to a side which was spirited and maximised their potential. Manish Shah did well to post a big hundred and I remember Venkat Kunnath batting well too. I actually thought he got a hundred, but I now discover he felt short.

He was a talented left-hander who should have made a name for himself.u00a0The parents and supporters of the St Mary's team were over the moon when Sachin was dismissed by left-arm spinner Khurram Darbar for 14.

I couldn't believe my eyes when a cake was cut to ‘commemorate' the ‘occasion'. Khurram bowled well as did off-spinner Mohan Mahimtura.

A teenaged Sachin Tendulkar

I also remember a headline in one of the newspapers the following morning: ‘St Mary's in driver's seat as Tendulkar fails'. I thought to myself, ‘bloody hell, this guy makes the headlines even if he doesn't get runs.'

' Amol Muzumdar went on to lead Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy u00a0