3 Apr 2011

India win the World Cup

7:12 am on 3 April 2011

India has won its second cricket World Cup, beating Sri Lanka by six wickets in the final in Mumbai to claim their second one-day world title.

Sri Lanka won the toss and made 274 for six before Indian captain and man of the match MS Dhoni hit a six for the winning runs with 10 balls remaining, as his side reached 277 for four.

India's second World Cup title looked in doubt when the great Sachin Tendulkar failed to make his hundredth international century, falling for just 18 on his Wankhede Stadium home ground to the despair of a bulk of a 33,000 capacity crowd.

But while his exit left India 31 for two, Gautam Gambhir and Dhoni put together a fourth-wicket partnership of 109, Gambhir's innings of 97 and Dhoni's 91 not out steadying the ship.

Earlier Mahela Jayawardene made 103 not out for Sri Lanka in their second loss in successive World Cup finals after losing to Australia in Barbados four years ago.

There was no fairytale finish for record-breaking off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, the sole survivor from Sri Lanka's 1996 champion side, who had announced previously he would retire after this World Cup.