By CricketCountry Staff
India won the 2011 World Cup defeating Sri Lanka by six wickets in the final match at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni led from the front with an unbeaten 91 as India finished at 277 for 4 in 48.2 overs. Earlier, Gautam Gambhir scored a splendid 97 for the men in blue.
Published: Apr 02, 2011, 02:58 PM (IST)
Edited: Apr 02, 2011, 02:58 PM (IST)
Mid Innings Report
By CricketCountry Staff
Mumbai: Apr 2, 2011
Tillakaratne Dilshan broke the 83-run fourth-wicket stand between Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli when he had Kohli caught and bowled for 35.
Dilshan brought an end to a partnership that threatened to take the game away from Sri Lanka as the men in blue look to move ahead in pursuit of 275 for World Cup glory.
This was after Gambhir rustled up a determined 25th one-day international half-century, bringing up his fifty with a single off Muttiah Muralitharan off 56 balls, studded with six hits to the fence.
Gambhir is joined by captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni at the wicket.
Gambhir and Kohli repaired the Indian innings after Lasith Malinga dislodged Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar early to put Sri Lanka in a strong position.
The pair did not take any undue risks, and kept the scoreboard ticking over with some sensible batting – raising a half-century stand – a much required one for India after the early slump.
Gambhir launched his innings on a confident note, whipping Malinga to the square-leg boundary. He twice stepped out to Thisara Perera and clobbered him for two boundaries to give impetus to the innings.
Kohli took his time to get his eye in and gave the Wankhede crowd something to rejoice about when he flicked one to the on-side for a morale-boosting boundary.
Earlier, Malinga dealt a big blow in the first over when he pinned Sehwag lbw for a duck.
The Sri Lankan speed merchant then claimed the prized wicket of Tendulkar to put the men in blue in a spot of bother. Tendulkar pushed at an away going delivery and was pouched by wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara for 18.
The maestro promised much, middling the ball from ball one. He picked two boundaries of Nuwan Kulasekera in the fourth over – a straight drive was a treat and he followed it up with a scorching cut past the point.
Earlier, Sri Lanka rode on a fighting unbeaten century by Mahela Jayawardene to post a score of 274 for 6 in its allotted 50 overs.
Brief Scores: Sri Lanka 274 for 6 (Mahela Jayawardene 103*, Kumar Sangakkara 48, Tillakaratne Dilshan 33, Nuwan Kulasekara 32; Yuvraj Singh 2 for 49, Zaheer Khan 2 for 60) vs India 124 for 3 in 25 overs (Gautam Gambhir 60*, Virat Kohli 35; Lasith Malinga 2 for 11).
Pictures © Getty Images
