World Cup 2011-The 2nd of April has always been special for our country, India. Because on this day in 2011 India won the World Cup after 28 years for the 2nd time in their World Cup history after being consistent for 44 days (19th Feb-2nd April). 997 million people in total watched the match worldwide.
India faced Sri Lanka at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai in the grand finals of the 2011 Cricket World Cup. After winning the toss Sri Lanka decided to bat first. Upul Tharanga and Tilakaratne Dilshan came to open the innings for Lanka but, Tharanga got caught in the slip cordon off a fine outswinger by Zaheer Khan. Dilshan departed off a wide ball from Harbhajan Singh, was stumped by skipper MS Dhoni. Lankan skipper Kumar Sangakkara contributed with a valuable 48 before getting trapped off Yuvraj’s wide ball. Experienced Mahela Jayawardene hit an excellent 103 to assist Lanka to reach 274. Yuvraj Singh had the best bowling figure in the match with 2/49 in 10 overs. Zaheer Khan bagged 2 wickets for 60 runs in 10 overs.
In the purpose of 274, Sehwag got trapped in front of the wicket off Malinga’s good length ball in the second ball of the first over. India lost their best batsman Sachin Tendulkar in the 6th over off a good length out-going delivery by Malinga and billions of hearts got broken. But then savior comes in form of Gautam Gambhir to rescue India from the crisis. Gambhir was one of the architects behind India’s victory in the match. Firstly he stitched an 83 run partnership with Virat Kohli for the 3rd wicket. Virat scored an important 35 off 49 balls, which is not recognized by the people. But in a big match like World Cup final this knock can’t be forgotten. Then the skipper of India MS Dhoni came in at No 5 and fabricated a 109 run partnership with opener Gautam Gambhir for the 4th wicket. Gambhir got castled by Thisara Perera after notching up an incredible 96. MS Dhoni then carried his innings till 91 along with Yuvraj Singh. Dhoni smashed Nuwan Kulasekara a huge six over long-on to take India home and fulfilled the dream of billion of Indians in the 48th over. That day India proved the significance of partnership in cricket.
MS Dhoni was rewarded Man of the Match for his 91* off 79 balls.
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