Cricket World Cup 2011 Final: India Vs. Sri Lanka

Destiny fulfilled.

Ever since it was announced that the sub-continent would host this World Cup and moreover that the final was to be staged in Mumbai, the expectation that India, unquestionably the most fanatical of the cricketing nations, would be the side that would hold the trophy aloft.

With five overs remaining, the game – whilst tipped in India’s favour – could still have gone either way. Buoyed by the wicket of Gambhir, Sri Lanka knew that a couple of quick wickets could tilt the game in their favour.

The final batting powerplay was always likely to benefit India of course, and so it proved. After a 46th over where only 3 runs were scored, Sri Lanka opted to hand the ball to Kulasekera as opposed to Muralitharan and India profited.

Between overs 11-20 Sri Lankan threatened to accelerate, hitting 51 through the partnership of Dilshan and Sangakkara with Sreesanth (brought back for the final) proving particularly expensive.

The introduction of Harbajhan proved pivotal though as he dismissed Dilshan for when the opener looked well set, and with Yuvraj now into the attack Sri Lanka have been checked slightly and are 105-2 off 25 overs.

A fascinating first quarter of the innings sees the game well poised with Sri Lanka reaching 39-1 from 12 overs.

India undoubtedly started the brighter of the two sides with Zaheer Khan opening up with a superb spell of bowling that saw three sucessive maidens. The Sri Lankan openers could not get off to their usual fast start, with India’s energy in the field also restricting runs. India (and Zaheer) got their reward when Thuranga edged to Sehwag in the slips.

Sri Lanka have won the toss (at the second time of asking) and will bat first – a decision that gives them a slight advantage in being able to set India a target. The middle order of Sri Lanka though has not needed to be utilised often during the tournament and it will be interesting if India manage to grab a couple of early wickets.

India have made one change from their semi-final line up with Ashish Nehra failing a fitness test and being replaced by Sree Sreethanth.

Will it be India fulfilling its destiny or Sri Lanka spoiling the party? That is the question being posed heading into Saturday’s 2011 Cricket World Cup final.

A tournament that has had plenty of highlights and breathed new life into the fifty-over format of the game reaches its climax following the semi-finals that saw Sri Lanka first overcome plucky New Zealand, and then India defeat their great sporting rivals Pakistan, not without a scare or two along the way