Indian dream comes true,India become the first country to win the World Cup on home soil Dhoni finished with 91 not out as India, chasing a target of 275, won by six wickets with 10 balls to spare at the Wankhede Stadium to become the first country to win the World Cup on home soil. They are also the third side to win batting second, a feat that seemed beyond them when Lasith Malinga dismissed both openers in his first four overs. “It’s good to win. That was really pushing me in this game. It’s been a memorable 35 days that we’ve spent together and this is the goal we wanted to achieve,” Dhoni said at the victory presentation. Left-hander Gautam Gambhir stayed calm among the storm to score a masterly 97, sharing a fourth-wicket partnership of 109 from 118 balls with man-of-the-match Dhoni. Yuvraj Singh, who was named man-of-the-tournament, finished on 21 not out. Muttiah Muralitharan, playing his last international match, was accurate but rarely threatening and was clearly feeling the effects of a hamstring and knee injury. The world record holder for test and one-day wickets did not increase his tally. After Mahela Jayawardene had scored an unbeaten 103 in Sri Lanka’s challenging 274 for six, Malinga reduced an exuberant crowd to a shocked silence. His second ball in the opening over skidded through low to Virender Sehwag who, playing across the line, was out lbw without scoring. Sachin Tendulkar looked in masterly touch, off-driving and square-cutting boundaries off Nuwan Kulasekara’s second over. Sri Lanka’s captain Kumar Sangakkara persisted with Malinga and was rewarded when Tendulkar (18) fended uncertainly outside the off-stump and edged a catch to the captain behind the stumps. Malinga raced the length of the pitch to receive the congratulations of his ecstatic team mates. Tendulkar, 37, who was playing in what looks certain to be his last World Cup, still needs one more century to become the first man to score 100 international centuries. Gambhir and Virat Kohli began the rescue operation and received a huge slice of luck when the former was dropped at long-off by Kulasekara off off-spinner Suraj Randiv on 30 with the total on 68. Reuters

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