The 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup was co-hosted by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Pakistan were also the co-hosts initially but following the 2009 attack on the touring Sri Lanka national cricket team in Lahore, the ICC pulled out the matches.
The top four teams from each group advanced to the knockout stage to compete in a single-elimination style tournament. With their victory over Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka became the first team to qualify for the quarter-finals of the tournament.
The West Indies were bowled out for a paltry 112 in the quarters and Pakistan got there without losing a wicket. This was the West Indies’ lowest score in the knockout stages and the third lowest in their World Cup history. With that win, Pakistan reached at least the semifinal stages in five consecutive ICC tournaments.
The mighty Aussies were shown the door by India and thus ended their 12-year reign as one-day world champions. Australia posted 260 for six wickets with Ricky Ponting scoring 104 runs. In response, India chased down the target with 14 balls to spare. In the other quarterfinals, Tillakaratne Dilshan and Upul Tharanga both made centuries as Sri Lanka chased down England’s target of 230 to win by 10 wickets; this run chase set a new record for the highest successful run chase in a 10-wicket victory.
The highlight of the 2011 World Cup was the semi-final match between hosts India and arch rivals Pakistan at Mohali. India won the toss and elected to bat first and made 260 runs in 50 overs for nine wickets. Sachin Tendulkar scored 85 runs but he was dropped four times and one leg before decision was overturned. Pakistan batsmen were then choked by the Indian bowling attack and despite a good start, failed to maintain the asking rate and were restricted to just 231 runs in 49.5 overs.
For a second consecutive time, Sri Lanka defeated New Zealand in the semi-finals of the World Cup and made it to the finals.
In the final at Mumbai, India regained the coveted World Cup after 28 years as they got the better of Sri Lanka by six wickets. Jayawardene’s unbeaten innings of 103 was a flawless one which saw Sri Lanka set a challenging 275 for a historic win. India, despite losing Sachin Tendulkar early, held their nerves as they rode on Gautam Gambhir’s 97 and Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s unbeaten 91 to overhaul the target with 10 balls to spare.
This was the first time in World Cup history that two Asian teams had appeared in the final. It was also the first time since the 1992 World Cup that the final did not feature Australia. India’s Yuvraj Singh was declared the Man of the Tournament. In nine matches, including six in the league phase, Yuvraj amassed 362 runs and took 15 wickets with his slow left-arm spinners.
- N.D.Prashant, Staff Reporter
