Pakistan beat invincible Sri Lankan team to lift the ICC World Cup 2009 title at Lord\'s Cricket Ground, St John\'s Wood. Man of the match Shahid Afridi pursued an excellent spell of bowling with an unbeaten 54 to steer Pakistan home with eight wickets in hands. Interestingly on June 21, 1999 Pakistan lost the World Cup Final to Australia and right after a ten-year of span Pakistan lift a much needed title to perk up the thwarted nation.
Afridi shared an unbroken stand of 76 with Shoaib Malik (24 not out) to ember the wild panorama of celebration at the home of cricket Lord’s where a roars of “Pakistan Zindabad” [long live Pakistan] electrifying the environment. Pakistan lost the inaugural World Twenty20 Cup final to arch-rivals India but seems like it was yesterday’s eve and Pakistan popped out today for a second time to rob the title.
more to come, shortly
Sri Lanka opted to bat first to be slumped cheaply as Lankan both openers back in hut within nine balls of the day. It was the incredible start by Pakistan as fast bowler Mohammad Aamir sent back the in-form Tillekaratne Dilshan with the fifth ball of the match. Sanath Jayasuriya smacked two fours and a six and quickly piled on 17 off 10 balls but Abdul Razzaq wiped off his stumps to chop him out as earlier Razzaq removed Jehan Mubarak for two-ball duck.
Captain Kumar Sangakkara came into the middle to revive Sri Lanka innings as Pakistan almost destroyed Lankan line-up as four of its batsman were out on 34. Sangakkara produced a plucky half-century from just 44 balls, reaching the landmark with his fifth four. In the meanwhile his other end was kept on shattering as former skipper Mahela Jayawardene guided one straight to Misbah-ul Haq and became Razzaq\'s third victim of the innings.
The total moved to 67-4 in the 12th over when seamer Umar Gul struck with his third ball to have Silva tapping a catch to Saeed Ajmal at mid-wicket after making 14. Tailender Isuru Udana, who was surprisingly promoted to number seven, lasted only five balls when Afridi chopped his defence to dislodge his stumps and make Sri Lanka 70-6 in 13 overs.
Sri Lanka - the only team unbeaten through out the tournament meanwhile was in an odd touch as their batting was rattling poorly but a miraculous seventh-wicket partnership among Angelo Mathews and Sangakkara help Sri Lanka to reach a moderate and respectable target of 138. Both remained unbeaten in a 68-run stand.
