DREAM SHATTERED!
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Victorious Indian team pose with the World Cup Trophy
A Nation In Mourning After World Cup Slips From Lanka’s Grasp
By Dion Michael – Photo by Asanka Ratnayake in Mumbai
Sri Lanka’s dream of winning another cricket World Cup tournament was shattered by a defiant Indian team in the World Cup final at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Saturday.
Sri Lanka looked to be in command of the game after a brilliant unbeaten century by Vice Captain Mahela Jayawardena had enabled them to reach a competitive 274 and then their star bowler Lasith Malinda struck twice removing the two dangermen – Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar cheaply.
Sehwag was trapped LBW for a second ball duck and then Tendulkar was caught behind by Kumar Sangakkara for 18 leaving India at a wobbly 31 for two wickets.
Gautham Gambhir and Virat Kohli repaired the early damage putting on 83 for the third wicket before the latter was caught and bowled by Tillekeratne Dilshan for 35.
Gambhir was then joined by Skipper Mahendra Dhoni in a stand of 109 for the fourth wicket which took the game away from the Lankans.
Gambhir fell just three short of a well deserved century when he was clean bowled by Thisara Perera for 97. However Dhoni 91 not out and Yuvraj Singh 21 not out ensured there was no further hiccups easing India to a six wicket victory and sparking off the biggest party on the globe in one nation and setting off a state of mourning in the other.
