Sri Lanka's 2011 World Cup Final Explained: Jayawardene 103*, Malinga, and the Last-Ball Heartbreak
Sri Lanka's 2011 ODI World Cup Final (Mumbai, April 2, 2011) — Mahela Jayawardene's masterful 103* while wickets fell, Lasith Malinga's early strikes, India's chase with Dhoni's promoted innings, why Sri Lanka's last-ball dismissal ended their title hopes, and Sri Lanka's World Cup history across all their Finals.
Sri Lanka reached the 2011 ODI World Cup Final (Mumbai, April 2, 2011) against hosts India — one of the most anticipated Final matchups in WC history, combining the home advantage India received with the quality of Sri Lanka's balanced squad. The Final produced Mahela Jayawardene's finest limited-overs innings (103*, the only WC Final century by a batting number 3-6 player in that era) and MS Dhoni's famous self-promotion to number 4 — and ultimately India's 6-wicket win that gave Sachin Tendulkar the WC title he had sought across five previous WC campaigns.
Jayawardene's 103*: Batting Through the Collapse
Sri Lanka's batting innings (50 overs): Sri Lanka's opening pair was dismissed early by Indian pace (Zaheer Khan, Sreesanth). At 31/2, Jayawardene came to the crease. What followed: Jayawardene scored 103* from 88 balls (13 fours and a six) — not out because Sri Lanka's innings ended at 274/6 after 50 overs. Around him, wickets fell: Kumar Sangakkara (48), Thilakaratne Dilshan (33), Dinesh Chandimal (35) came and went; Jayawardene anchored and accumulated throughout. The innings is technically remarkable because Jayawardene batted with different partners for each phase — he could not build a sustained partnership but kept scoring regardless. His 103* is the only century scored in the batting side's innings and forms the backbone of Sri Lanka's 274/6. In the context of the WC Final, Jayawardene's innings is rated by analysts as one of the finest individual limited-overs batting performances in the tournament's history — high quality against India's attack (Zaheer, Nehra, Harbhajan, Yuvraj) with match result awareness throughout.
India's Chase: Dhoni Promotes Himself
India's chase (275 required, 50 overs): Virender Sehwag was LBW to Lasith Malinga first ball (0, caught behind). Sachin Tendulkar (18) was also dismissed. At 31/2, MS Dhoni promoted himself to bat at number 4 (above Yuvraj Singh, the tournament's leading run-scorer). Dhoni's reasoning: Malinga's angle was targeting left-handers, and Yuvraj (left-handed) would face a specific disadvantage vs Malinga at that stage. Dhoni: 91* from 79 balls, including the match-winning six off Nuwan Kulasekara in the 49th over. India 277/4 from 48.2 overs — India won by 6 wickets. Malinga's 2/31 (Sehwag, Tendulkar) had set up Sri Lanka's best chance; Dhoni and Gambhir (97) erased it.
Sri Lanka's World Cup History
Sri Lanka's ODI World Cup history: (1) 1979 (England): group stage exit; (2) 1983 (England): group stage; (3) 1987 (India/Pakistan): group stage; (4) 1992 (Australia/New Zealand): group stage; (5) 1996 (co-hosts India/Pakistan/Sri Lanka): WON — the defining Sri Lanka cricket moment; Final vs Australia (Lahore), Aravinda de Silva 107* (Sri Lanka 245/3, Australia 241/8); Sri Lanka won by 7 wickets; (6) 1999 (England): group stage; (7) 2003 (South Africa): group stage; (8) 2007 (West Indies): Final (lost to Australia at Barbados by 53 runs — Jayawardene 115); (9) 2011 (India/Bangladesh/Sri Lanka): Final (lost to India by 6 wickets — Jayawardene 103*); (10) 2015 and beyond: quarter-finals. Sri Lanka have appeared in 3 ODI WC Finals (1996 win, 2007 and 2011 losses) — the third-most Finals appearances alongside West Indies (3 Finals: 1975 win, 1979 win, 1983 loss).
Frequently asked questions
Who scored a century in the 2011 World Cup Final?
Mahela Jayawardene scored 103* (not out) for Sri Lanka in the 2011 ODI World Cup Final (Mumbai, April 2, 2011) — from 88 balls, with 13 fours and 1 six. It was the only century in the 2011 WC Final innings. Jayawardene batted through wickets falling around him; Sri Lanka ended at 274/6. India chased 275 and won by 6 wickets (Dhoni 91*, Gambhir 97). Jayawardene's 103* is considered one of the finest individual WC Final innings because of the wicket-falling context and the quality of India's bowling attack.
Did Sri Lanka win the 2011 World Cup?
No — Sri Lanka lost the 2011 ODI World Cup Final to India (Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, April 2, 2011) by 6 wickets. Sri Lanka scored 274/6 (Jayawardene 103*); India reached 277/4 from 48.2 overs (Dhoni 91*, Gambhir 97). Sri Lanka won the ODI World Cup only once: the 1996 Final (Lahore, March 17, 1996), beating Australia by 7 wickets (de Silva 107*).
How many World Cup Finals has Sri Lanka reached?
Sri Lanka has reached 3 ODI World Cup Finals: 1996 (Lahore — WON vs Australia, de Silva 107*); 2007 (Barbados — LOST to Australia by 53 runs, Jayawardene 115); 2011 (Mumbai — LOST to India by 6 wickets, Jayawardene 103*). Jayawardene scored a century in both losing Finals — the only batsman to score centuries in two different WC Finals (both times on the losing side).