"God's" wish fulfilled at last
After 1996, Indian sub-continent got the right to host the World Cup. Pakistan, however, lost the right to host the matches due to terrorist attacks on Sri Lankan team bus in 2009 and hence the matches were held by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Fourteen teams took part in this edition of the World Cup and they were classified into two groups with the top 4 from each group advancing to the quarter finals in the following format : A1 vs B4 ; A2 vs B3 ; A3 vs B2 and A4 vs B1. Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Canada and Kenya were placed in Group A while Group B consisted of India, Bangladesh, South Africa, the West Indies, England, Ireland and the Netherlands.
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The highlights of the group stages were Pakistan stopping Aussie juggernaut when they won by 4 wickets. This was Australia’s first defeat in a World Cup match since 1999. Incidentally, Pakistan pipped them in that 1999 outing. Another World Cup tie match took place when India tied with England at Bangalore ( now Bengaluru) . Shocking results came when minnows Ireland and Bangladesh stunning England in their outings.
The quarter final line up looked like this : West Indies vs Pakistan ; Australia vs India ; South Africa vs New Zealand and England vs Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka and Pakistan had it easy in their encounters. India dethroned Australia by knocking them out at Ahmedabad while South Africa chocked again.
Hence the semi final line up were New Zealand vs Sri Lanka and Pakistan vs India. Both the matches turned out to be thrilling encounters with Sri Lanka edging past Kiwis and pathetic Pakistan fielding led to their ouster against their arch-rivals. Sachin Tendulkar, alone got four lives on route to 85.
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Grand Finale, thus, was between India and Sri Lanka at Mumbai. There was a drama at the toss when uproars by Wankhede crowds prevented match referee Jeff Crowe from hearing Sri Lankan skipper Kumara Sangakkara’s call as a result of which it has to be retaken. Due to a fine century by Mahela Jayawardane Sri Lanka posted a total of 274. Chasing 275, India got to a worst possible start losing both the openers Virendra Sehwag 0(2) and Sachin Tendulkar 18(14) early later Gautam Gambhir 97(122) and Virat Kohli 35(49) steadied the ship and after Kohli’s dismissal, to everyone’s surprise, skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni promoted himself at number 5. Ahead of in form Yuvraj Singh. Captain cool justified his move by scoring a match winning 91 not out (79) ending the World Cup by his trademark helicopter shot six. Mahela Jayawardene , thus, became the first world cup final centurion to end up in a losing side.
India won the world cup and Sachin “God” Tendulkar had his wish fulfilled. After the match team India paid him a fitting tribute by lifting him around his home crowds.
Yuvraj Singh was adjudged the player of the World Cup.
