Mumbai, April 02: The Indian cricket team defeated Srilanka in the world cup final. MS Dhoni has completed 6000 runs in one day internationals. Indubitably, he would count the 91 runs he has scored today as some of the most important of those. He walked in with India in a pressure situation, with all of India demanding a captain’s knock, and acutely aware that he had not performed at all with the bat in the World Cup 2011.
Along with partner Gautam Gambhir, the skipper kept the score ticking after the departure of Virat Kohli, brilliantly caught and bowled by Tillakaratne Dilshan for 35 when India were 114. But, there was heartbreak when Gambhir departed for 97, a mature knock that came when needed most. He was bowled by Thisara Perera and India were 223 for 4. Yuvraj Singh, who has scripted several India wins in this tournament, is out to bat.
Kohli’s was the third Indian wicket to fall and Dhoni came in to bat ahead of Yuvraj Singh keeping a right-left batting combination going, put his head down to play responsibly with left-handed Gambhir, who got his fourth 50 of the tournament.
Brief Scores:
Sri Lanka: 274 for six in 50 overs (Mahela Jayawardene 103 not out, Kumar Sangakkara 48; Yuvraj Singh 2/49, Zaheer Khan 2/60).
India: 277 for four in 48.2 overs (Gautam Gambhir 97, Mahendra Singh Dhoni 91 not out; Lasith Malinga 2/42.
–Agencies