*Official* - Final - India v Sri Lanka

[BoyBrumby]

Pretty much the perfect batting PP for SL.

I bow to no man in my admiration for Zak, but really bowled poorly at the end.

I'm in the Bumble camp here: I like the runs on the board.

 

[social]

Even though SL has a better bowling attack than India, I'll back the latter in

Wicket is good, Murali isnt half the bowler he used to be, moons are aligned, etc

Just hope that friggin' hack Yuvi has nothing to do with it

 

[TumTum]

lol Zaheer

 

[benchmark00]

Sri Lanka will make 276.

Bookmark it.

****.

 

[_Ed_]

Mahela, that is one of the all time great ODI knocks.

For sure.

I didn't think K O'Brien could be dislodged for the title of innings of the tournament, but he might just have been.

 

[smash84]

wow..........zaheer clobbered today......must be feeling somewhat similar to Gul in the semi-final.......the last 3 overs from Zaheer in the power play went for plenty

 

[KiWiNiNjA]

5-3-6-1
5-0-54-1

 

[Furball]

When you see a classy player like Jayawardene play such a classy knock (look at his SR - with absolutely no slogging whatsoever), it does make you wonder why his ODI record is as poor as it is.

 

[Spikey]

Team not taking PP tactically shocker.

Yeah, much nicer to have Zaheer bowl overs 46, 48, and 50 AND IN THE PP.

Brilliant.

 

[burr]

What a finish! Nothing like a big last 5 overs to get a match going. Ooohhhh, I've missed cricket.

And then there's Mahala. Ahhh, thank you for reminding people that one day batting can be beautiful. Only class of his ilk can made 100 off 84 look so easy.

This match is set up.

 

[benchmark00]

I couldn't believe when people didn't rate Jayawardene as a ODI batsman at the start of the series. Stats are useless, class will always be class.

 

[social]

When you see a classy player like Jayawardene play such a classy knock (look at his SR - with absolutely no slogging whatsoever), it does make you wonder why his ODI record is as poor as it is.

Nowhere near as good when the ball gets above stump height tbh

Sanga is a much better all round batsman

 

[Xuhaib]

Mahela take a bow.

 

[smash84]

Tendy and Sehwag the key now...........they will have to fire.........going by Tendy's record in finals I won't count on him..........Sehwag must fire today for India to stay in the match

 

[Somerset]

Great finish, sensational. A couple of early wickets and SL should be favourites; in saying that, I wouldn't bet against a Sehwag or a Tendulkar taking responsibility and emulating Jayawardene with a great innings of their own. Certainly leads to an intriguing run chase.

 

[benchmark00]

Also, Malinga's second/third spell will be absolutely crucial. Will probably come on when there's a partnership set, if he can knock one over then it's Sri Lanka, if India see him off then it's theirs.

 

[Furball]

I couldn't believe when people didn't rate Jayawardene as a ODI batsman at the start of the series. Stats are useless, class will always be class.

Stats might not tell you everything but an average of 32-33 tells you he doesn't produce the goods enough.

Both he and Sangakkara should have much better records than they do.

 

[KiWiNiNjA]

Zaheer giving away 35 runs off his last 2 overs was perfectly foreseeable.

 

[Furball]

Nowhere near as good when the ball gets above stump height tbh

Sanga is a much better all round batsman

Agreed, but that innings was gorgeous - and a complete vindication of the 'you don't have to slog mindlessly to score quickly' school of thought.

 

[Teja.]

wow..........zaheer clobbered today......must be feeling somewhat similar to Gul in the semi-final.......the last 3 overs from Zaheer in the power play went for plenty

Nah, Zak did get beaten up in the end but I think he had a good match, despite what 2-60 might tell you on face value. Really set the tone to destroy SL's chances of 300+ early on and Munaf was feeding on the pressure set by him to bowl very economically in the beginning.

One of the great ODI knocks from Mahela there. 274 a bit too much of an ask IMO. One of Gambhir/Tendulkar NEEDS to play the anchor role and guide the chase.