One point two billion frantic Indians just broke into joyous jubilation while Sri Lanka’s Nuwan Kulasekera who was partly responsible for the Lankan respectable total of 274 for 6 will never forgive himself. With the Indian score on 68 for 2 and the Lankans riding high Kulasekera dropped a regulation high catch off Indian World Cup winner Gautam Ghambir who made 97 runs to thwart the century effort of Lankan champion Mahela Jayawardena.
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| Sachin Tendulkar is carried on his teammates shoulders after India defeated Sri Lanka in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 final played at The Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai yesterday. India defeated Sri Lanka by six wickets to win the 2011 World Cup. AFP |
Two Indian batsmen – Gambhir and the Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni who had charmed lives braved the early loss of veterans Virendra Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar and hit half centuries and put on a 109 run partnership for the 4th wicket to pull off a stunning six wicket win at the Wankhade Stadium to end the 28 year drought and take the plum for the second time in history. They first won the cup under Kapil Dev way back in 1983.
Gambhir’s 97 made in 122 balls contained nine hit to the boundary while Dhoni who was also was named as the man of the match remained unbeaten on 91 hit the winning six off Kulasekera himself to finish the game with an over and four balls to spare. Yuvraj Singh who was unbeaten on 21 was adjudged by the ICC panel of five as the player of the tournament.
The Lankans who ended up as the runner-up to Australia of the 10th edition which was held in the West Indies, now have ended once again in the same position. –this time against their neighbours India.
Chasing a target of 5.48 runs per over the home team was in to a shocker when Lasith Malinga trapped free scoring Sehwag in front in the second ball of the day for zero. But, the stubborn batsman walked back to the dressing room after wasting a precious umpire’s review. Then the next to go was veteran Sachin Tendulkar who was searching for his century of centuries. Once again it was Malinga who bagged him – caught behind by Sangakkara for 18. After the demise of the experienced duo the youngsters – Gautham Ghambir and Virat Kohli kept the momentum on for the Indians with some bold stroke play. This association was stopped by spinner T.M. Dilshan who held on and amazing catch off his own bowling to get Kohli. Kohli who added 83 runs with Gambhir made a personal contribution of 35 runs. In the very next over of Dilshan – Dhoni had a life when he was dropped by the bowler on his follow through at one.
Earlier Mahela Jayawardena Walking on to the crease when the Lankan scoreboard was reading a tentative 60 for 2 the Lankan vice captain Mahela Jayawardena scored one of the most polished centuries made in any type of cricket and put Sri Lanka in a very challenging position in the 2011 World Cup Final when he guided them to an imposing 274 for 6 on a slowing wicket against India at the Wankhade Stadium here today.
 Jayewardene’s knock of 103 not out made in just 88 balls with thirteen beautiful hits to the fence in front of a packed, partisan but stunned audience was just imposing.
From the time he arrived at the crease he knew what his mission was. First with Sangakkara he steadied the inning and then with Thilan Samaraweera he looked to consolidate and then with Kulasekera he wanted to make sure that Sri Lanka would get a score that they could bowl to and then with Thisara Perera he made sure than the total would be a fighting one that the Indians would have to really bat well to score and win. Yet again once Jayawardena completed his century it was seen that even some of the ardent Indian supporters giving him a standing ovation acknowledging the class of his effort.
It was the advent of Kulasekera to the crease at the fall of Chamara Kapugedera’s wicket that fortunes began to change for the Lankans. The score reading at 182 for 5 and the final score not promising much the pair turned the tide in their favour with a 66 run stand in 49 balls with Kulasekera contributing 32 in 30 balls with a six and a four.
The power play was taken on the 45th over with the total at 211 for 5, but at the end of the innings the power play had brought in 63 runs for the loss of only one wicket – one of the best power play efforts by Sri Lanka in recent times. So at the end of Thisara Perera’s little cameo of 22 made in nine balls, Indian strike bowler Zaheer Khan who did not give away a run in his first overs ended his ten at 2 for 60.
There was confusion even before a ball was bowled. At the initial toss Lankan skipper Sangakkara called in right but, the roar of the crowed made it inaudible and both the match referee and the Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni appeared to have not heard it. However another toss was made and Sangakkara was right in his call again and elected to bat.
Lanka came in to this game with a few changes with a situation which was compounded by the injury to dependable all-rounder Angelo Mathews. The Lankan team management left out, Ajantha Mendis, Rangana Herat along with struggling middle order batsman Chamara Silva and brought in Suraj Randiv (Who was especially flown in for this game for injured Mathews) along with Thisara Perera, Nuwan Kulasekera and batsman Chamara Kapugedera.
Scoreboard
Sri Lanka
Upul Tharanga c Sehwag b Z Khan 02
(Tempted Tharanga for a drive; ball edges the bat and goes to Sehwag at slip)
TM Dilshan b H Singh 33
(Ball pitches on the leg-side; Dilshan sweeps but the ball brushes his gloves and goes on to hit the stumps)
Kumar Sangakkara c Dhoni b Y Singh 48
(Ball pitches and moves across Sangakkara who plays a hard cut; edges to wicketkeeper)
Mahela Jayawardena not out 103
Thilan Samaraweera lbw b Y Singh 21
(Sweeps for a delivery that pitches outside the off stumps and misses. Appeal turned down by Simon Taufel but referral reverts the original decision)
Chamara Kapugedara c Raina b Z Khan 01
(Pushes forward to a slower delivery; Raina takes a simple catch at short extra cover)
Nuwan Kulasekara run out 32
(Attempted a short run after playing towards the leg-side; Dhoni throws the ball under-arm)
Thissara Perera not out 22
Extras (1b, 3lb, 6w, 2nb) 12
Total (for 6 wickets; 50 overs) 274
Did not bat: Lasith Malinga, Suraj Randiv, Muttiah Muralitharan
Fall of wickets: 1-17 (Tharanga), 2-60 (Dilshan), 3-122 (Sangakkara), 4-179 (Samaraweera), 5-182 (Kapugedara), 6-248 (Kulasekara)
Bowling: Zaheer Khan 10-3-60-2 (1w), S Sreesanth 8-0-52-0 (2nb), Munaf Patel 9-0-41-0 (1w), Harbhajan Singh 10-0-50-1 (1w), Yuvraj Singh 10-0-49-2, Sachin Tendulkar 2-0-12-0 (3w), Virat Kohli 1-0-6-0
India
Virender Sehwag lbw b Malinga 00
(Plays a flick shot to a full length delivery, the ball completely misses and hits the pad)
Sachin Tendulkar c Sangakkara b Malinga 18
(Full length delivery pitches outside the off stump and tempts Tendulkar for a drive but edges to Sangakkara)
Gautam Gambhir b T Perera 97
(Steps outside to play a slog, the ball finds the inside edge of the bat and hits the wicket)
Virat Kohli c and b Dilshan 35
(Drives towards long-on, Dilshan jumps to convert it to a brilliant catch off his own bowling)
MS Dhoni not out 91
Yuvraj Singh not out 21
Extra (1b, 6lb, 8w) 15
Total (for 4 wickets; 48.2 overs) 277
Did not bat: Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Munaf Patel, S Sreesanth
Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Sehwag), 2-31 (Tendulkar), 3-114 (Kohli), 4-223 (Gambhir).
Bowling: Lasith Malinga 9-0-42-2 (2w), Nuwan Kulasekara 8.2-0-64-0, Thissara Perera 9-0-55-1 (2w), Suraj Randiv 9-0-43-0, TM Dilshan 5-0-27-1 (1w), Muttiah Muralitharan 8-0-39-0 (1w) |
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