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World Cup Final ThreadIND vs SL
2nd April, 2011 from 2:30 PM IST onwards.
At 2:00 P.M.
Wankhede was at its peak decible with 35000 odd people already in the ground waiting for their beloved captain to put his hands around the trophy after 28 long years.
It's toss time. 1/n
Talismanic Dhoni spins the coin up into the air. Sanga calls Tails?! Wait?! The noise in the ground defeans the match referee. Sanga suggests to toss again. Sanga calls Heads this time, and Heads it is. Ind loss the toss and will have to chase the history to lift the cup. 2/n
2:30 P.M We Arrive
In 2003 final, many experts said "India just did not arrive that day". 120 crore people in India were nervous. Can Zak redeem himself? Well, he did it in style by bamboozling Tharanga with the help of Sehwag's stunner. Zak first spell read as 4-3-2-1 3/n
We ArriveIn 2003 final, many experts said "India just did not arrive that day". 120 crore people in India were nervous. Can Zak redeem himself? Well, he did it in style by bamboozling Tharanga with the help of Sehwag's stunner. Zak first spell read as 4-3-2-1 3/n
Lions Roar backZak was roaring but the then captain and the vice-captain (Sanga and Dilshan) of the SL team saw off the seamer's threatening spell and started taking advantage of the flat Wankhede wicket. 4/n
The Tom and Jerry ShowSL raced away to 60 in 16 overs. Dilshan looked confident to make it big but then came Bhajji. Dilshan trying to sweep Bhajji gets a bit big on him and off goes the bails. India look relieved but in came Jayawardene. Both batters looked audacious. 5/n
There were cuts, late cuts, cover drives, hook, and pull. 62 runs of style, simplicity, and sleekness made Indian captain fidgeting. He bought in the golden arm of World cup Yuvraj Singh. Such was Yuvraj the bowler, he got the big fish Sanga and then Samaraweera. SL 179-4. 6/n
Khan joined in to dismiss Kapugedra in the next over. SL were in the backfoot but had Jayawardene at the other end. He, first with Kulasekara and then with Perara, made sure SL is well placed at 274/6 as the last over of the innings went for 18 runs thanks to Perera. 7/n
The TwistLankans just didn't end the first innings on a high, they broke the door and probably India's spine by getting Sehwag for duck and Sachin cheaply. Malinga was breathing fire. India tottering at 31/2. Phew, God is a great director indeed. 8/n
The RevivalDelhites are known to give it back. Therefore, who better than these 2 Delhites to control the ship. Gambhir and Kohli just didn't look to back off. They fell, jumped, got hit but most importantly they stayed. They hung in to stitch a vital 83 run partnership. 9/n
Kohli's wicket and Captain's arrivalDilshan just took the best catch of the tournament. SL are up again. Kohli is gutted. Gambhir is on his knees. Wankhade is experiencing a pin drop silence. And suddenly, all shout in hope. Hope seeing Dhoni promote himself up. Can he? 10/n
The PartnershipDhoni cuts the ball to cover, Gambhir nudges the ball the backward point. Dhoni drives, Gambhir drives. Dhoni pulls, Gambhir pulls. There wasn't a shot in the cricket book that was not exploited by the two players who deserved a hundred each. 11/n
The FinishGambhir lost his composure, got out for 97. Dhoni, however didn't. He makes sure India take the cup home this time as he hits one to the mid off. Shastri sums it up well "DHONI FINISHES OFF IN STYLE, INDIA LIFT THE WORLD CUP AFTER 28 YEARS". 12/n
The celebrationWankhede was dancing, whole India was dancing. Players cried, laughed, hugged. Together, we all were born again.We had to do it if not for us but for one man who carried India for more than 2 decades. Tournaments after Tournaments.Sachin had won it, finally.
When I heard our dad's boost about 1983 win everytime, as a 90s kid I envied. I remember crying the whole night when India lost the 99 CT final to NZ. Didn't smile for days after 03 loss. 07 was good but 2011 was gold. We cried today as a fan but in happiness. 14/n
The goosebumps, the jump, the vandematram song, the chak de India song. April 2nd will be stitched in memories forever until death. This thread is not just a remembrance script but for me, for fans like me, it is a emotion. A emotion that can only be experienced. Only be lived.
