Jayawardene ton lifts Sri Lanka to 274-6

Mahela Jayawardene hit an unbeaten 103 off 88 balls as Sri Lanka set India a stiff target of 275 runs to win the World Cup final at the packed Wankhede stadium on Saturday. 

Jayawardene's 14th one-day hundred steered Sri Lanka to 274-6 after skipper Kumar Sangakkara won an important toss and elected to bat on a slow wicket that hampered stroke-making. 

Tailenders Nuwan Kulasekara (32 off 30 balls) and Thisara Perera (22 off nine) helped Sri Lanka smash 63 runs in the last five overs of power-play to leave India chasing 5.50 runs an over under lights. 

Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men will begin their reply knowing that seven of the previous nine World Cup finals have been lost by the team batting second. 

A sell-out crowd of 33,000, including Indian President Pratibha Patil and Sri Lanka's head of state Mahinda Rajapakse, watched an absorbing contest between bat and ball. 

India's left-arm seamer Zaheer Khan dried up the flow of runs at the start and his two wickets made him the tournament's leading bowler alongside Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi with 21 wickets each. 

Confusion reigned at the toss, which had to be performed twice after match referee Jeff Crowe did not hear Sangakkara's call when Dhoni threw up the coin. 

Zaheer opened with three successive maidens and then struck with the first ball of his fourth over when Virender Sehwag dived to his right in the slips to remove Upul Tharanga for two. 

Fast bowler Shanthakumaran Sreesanth lifted the pressure by conceding 15 runs in his fifth over that included a no-ball and a warning for running in the danger area in his follow-through. 

Sreesanth, who was preferred ahead of spinner Ravichandran Ashwin after Ashish Nehra was ruled out with a fractured finger, was thrashed for 52 runs in his eight overs. 

Tillakaratne Dilshan, going into the final as the tournament's leading scorer with 467 runs, made 33 when he was bowled by off-spinner Harbhajan Singh to make Sri Lanka 60-2 in the 17th over. 

Sangakkara and Jayawardene put on 62 for the third wicket in 68 balls when Yuvraj Singh broke through by having the skipper caught behind by wicket-keeper Dhoni for 48. 

Thilan Samaraweera (21) added 57 for the fourth wicket with Jayawardene when he was given out leg-before through a TV referral after umpire Simon Taufel had negated bowler Yuvraj's appeal. 

Star spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, who was declared fit to play despite niggling hamstring and knee injuries, will lead the Sri Lanka attack with sling-arm fast bowler Lasith Malinga. 

Among the bowlers will also be off-spinner Suraj Randiv, who was officially included in the squad on Friday in place of the injured Angelo Mathews. 
Source: http://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/39434/jayawardene-ton-lifts-sri-lanka-to-274-6

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I had point to prove: Dhoni

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni admitted he took a World Cup final gamble on Saturday, a high-stakes strategy which paid dividends with a first world title since 1983. 

He included wayward seamer Shanthakumaran Sreesanth instead of steady spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and pushed himself up the batting order where he made an unbeaten 91. 

He finished the game with a huge six as India celebrated their six-wicket win over Sri Lanka at the Wankhede Stadium in style. 

"I took a quite few decisions tonight and if we hadn't had won I would have been asked quite a few questions," said Dhoni. 

"Why no Ashwin? Why Sreesanth? Why no Yuvraj (at five)? Why did I bat ahead? That pushed me and motivated to do well." 

Dhoni had admitted he had struggled for runs coming into the final. 

"The pressure had got to me in the previous games. In this match I wanted to bat up the order and (coach) Gary (Kirsten) backed me as did the senior players. I had a point to prove to myself." 

Dhoni also praised Gautam Gambhir who fell just three runs short of a century and Virat Kohli (35) who put on 83 for the third wicket. 

Gambhir also shared a crucial partnership of 109 with his captain after Lasith Malinga had removed openers Virender Sehwag (0) and Sachin Tendulkar (18) to leave the home side on a worrying 31-2 in pursuit of 274. 

"Virat and Gautam batted brillantly. There were lots of singles and then with the help of bit of dew, we put pressure on their spinners. I would have liked Gautam to go on and get that big hundred." 

Man of the tournament Yuvraj Singh said victory had capped a remarkable period for India, the commercial powerhouse of the world game. 

"This is unbelievable. We won the Under-19 World Cup, then the Twenty20 but this is the most special," said Yuvraj, who was man of the match on four occasions. 

"It's for Sachin and for everyone else. Batting second means a lot of pressure but Gauti and MS played outstandingly. They played like it was a normal game. We batted like champions. Thank you India." 

Tendulkar, who was winning his first World Cup in six attempts, said it had been the proudest moment of his career. 

"I couldn't have asked for anything more than this. Winning the World Cup is the proudest moment of my life," said Tendulkar. 

"But thanks to my team-mates, without them, nothing would have happened. I couldn't control my tears of joy. 

"The team stuck together in the rough phases and proved people wrong who doubted our ability. Self-belief has been always there but in the last two years, we have been very consistent. It's been great honour to be part of this team." 

The Board of Control for Cricket in India later announced that every player would receive $225,000 each for their efforts. 
Source: http://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/39472/i-had-point-to-prove-dhoni

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My proudest moment, says Tendulkar

Sachin Tendulkar said Saturday's World Cup triumph was the proudest moment of his life as India beat Sri Lanka by six wickets to capture the "ultimate" prize after a gap of 28 years. 

"I couldn't have asked for more," said Tendulkar, as his teammates carried him on their shoulders for a victory lap before adoring fans at the Wankhede Stadium. 

"Winning the World Cup is the ultimate thing. It is the proudest moment of my life. It shows it is never too late," he said referring to India's only previous World Cup win in 1983. 

"I thank my teammates who were fabulous. I could not really hold back my tears. These are happy tears so I don't mind crying." 

Tendulkar made just 18 with the bat as he missed out on scoring his 100th international century. 

Young star Virat Kohli said the victory was a fitting tribute to Tendulkar. 

"This goes out to all the people of India. Tendulkar has carried the burden of the nation for 21 years. It was time we carried him." 

Gautam Gambhir, who played a key role with the bat in making 97 off 122 balls, said the win was a gift to his great teammate from the entire squad. 

"All credit for this win should go to Tendulkar. We were all playing for him, this trophy is for him." 

Tendulkar, on his part, thanked each of his team-mates and the support staff including polar explorer Mike Horn. 

"I would like to thank the support staff especially Mike Horn who joined us at the start of the tournament and was there for our last couple of games. 

"He worked on the mental side and has helped us deal with the expectations and pressure. 

"The team stuck together in the rough phases and proved people wrong who doubted our ability. Self-belief has been always there but in the last two years, we have been very consistent. 

"It's been great honour to be part of this team. Thanks to (coach) Gary (Kirsten) and Paddy Upton (mental conditioning expert)." 
Source:http://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/39470/my-proudest-moment-says-tendulkar

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India deserved to win, says Sangakkara

Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara said his team were disappointed at missing out on a second World Cup title but proud to go down to a team that deserved victory more. 

"I am very proud of everyone in the team, especially Mahela (Jayawardene) who rose up to the occasion and put up a great hundred," he said, after India defeated his side by six wickets in the final at the Wankhede stadium. 

Jayawardene scored an unbeaten 103 off just 88 balls to take Sri Lanka to 274-6 in the day-night clash watched by a capacity 30,000 crowd and millions more on television. 

"When you look at this Indian team anything less than 350 is not enough. It has been a great tournament for us. The way India played they deserved the tag of favourites. 

"Both Sri Lanka and India will be proud with the way they have played." 

Sangakkara, who made 48, said the only way his team could have stopped India from winning the crown was to take quick wickets but that did not happen. 

"India were the better side. They were fantastic tonight. The only way for us to stop India was to get at least seven wickets. Gautam (Gambhir) was outstanding and (Mahendra Singh) Dhoni stepped up and performed. 

"We are disappointed but the better side won." 

Gambhir made 97 while skipper and man-of-the-match Dhoni finished unbeaten on 91. 
Source: http://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/39469/india-deserved-to-win-says-sangakkara

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Yuvraj named Player of Tournament

India batsman Yuvraj Singh was named as the player of the tournament at the conclusion of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 at Wankhede, Mumbai.

Yuvraj was the unanimous choice of a select group of experts following his sensational form that helped guide his side to the title before an adoring home crowd. The 29-year-old batted eight innings in the tournament, scoring a total of 362 at an average of 86.19.

He also took 15 wickets at an average of 25.13 and an economy-rate of 5.02 with his more-than-useful slow left-arm bowling.

During their deliberations, the members of the panel discussed several names, highlighting such players as Sri Lanka's inspirational captain Kumar Sangakkara, joint-top wicket-takers Shahid Afridi of Pakistan and Zaheer Khan of India, as well as leading run-scorer TM Dilshan and Muttiah Muralidaran of Sri Lanka, and AB de Villiers of South Africa. But the panel decided Yuvraj's crucial contributions to his team's victories with both bat and ball were deserving of the player-of-the-tournament award.

The selection panel that chose the men's ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 player of the tournament consisted of:

David Richardson (ICC General Manager - Cricket and former South Africa wicketkeeper)

Anand Vasu (Deputy Editor of Sports Illustrated)

Aleem Dar (Member of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires and Umpire of the Year 2009 and 2010)

Ranjan Madugalle (ICC Chief Match Referee and former Sri Lanka batsman)

Christopher Martin-Jenkins (journalist and broadcaster)
Source: http://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/39474/yuvraj-named-player-of-tournament

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Zaheer: from 4-3-2-1 to 10-3-60-2

New Delhi: Zaheer Khan's spell at the Wankhede on Saturday started on a note that erased all memories of that opening spell at the Wanderers in 2003. And then it all came back again.

In a dream opening spell, Zaheer sent down his first three overs as maidens and even took the wicket of Upul Tharanga before conceding his first runs with his 20th delivery of the match. At the end of the over, Zaheer's figures read a magical 4-3-2-1.

It was in sharp contrast to that fateful day in 2003 when an inexperienced yet charged up Zaheer ran into bowl to the Aussies and went for 15 runs in the first over. That one over set the tone for the game. Zaheer lost the battle of the nerves as he involved himself in a verbal duel with Adam Gilchrist, who responded by smashing him out of the attack. It was a sight no Indian fan can ever forget. Ball after ball was hooked and pulled and driven with utter disdain as he finished with figures of 67 runs from seven overs. Zaheer and India were pumelled into submission.

On Saturday, Zaheer gave India just the start they wanted as Sri Lanka scored just 31 runs from the first 10 overs with Zaheer finishing a five-over spell with figures of 5-3-6-1.

He followed that up with another fine two-over spell where he also picked up the wicket of Kapugedera in the 40th over, his figures reading 7-3-15-2.

And then it all went horribly wrong as Mahela Jayawardene stepped on the gas in his bid to reach a fine century and power Sri Lanka to a fighting total.

Zaheer's eighth over was the first of the Lankan batting powerplay and went for 10 runs. But it was his last two overs that must have brought back memories of the pumelling at the Wanderers.

Bowling the 48th over, Nuwan Kulasekara greeted the Indian pace spearhead with a six, who then took a single and gave Jayawardene the strike. The batsman, who was captain of the losing Lankan side in the 2007 World Cup final, looked like a man on mission as he hit two back-to-back fours to bring up a fine hundred of just 84 balls.

The agony didn't end there and when he came on to bowl the 50th over, he went for two fours and a six off his final delivery that ruined that had started as a dream spell to be sent down in a World Cup final.

To be fair to Zaheer, he has done everything possible in this World Cup to more than make up for what happened in 2003. Two overs should not take away from the fact that he's India's leading wicket-taker this tournament with 21 wickets.

Maybe, the ghost of the Wanderers will need to be buried there. He doesn't fancy Mumbai as his final resting place.

Source: http://cricketnext.in.com/news/zaheer-khan-redeems-himself-with-4321/56151-13.html

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The Final preview: India vs Sri Lanka - Video

Source: http://cricketnext.in.com/videos/56152/the-final-preview-india-vs-sri-lanka.html

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