India beat Sri Lanka by a convincing six wickets to win the 2011 Cricket World Cup

India have powered through against Sri Lanka to record an impressive win in the final of the 2011 Cricket World Cup in Mumbai.

It seems like ages since Ireland recorded their historic win over England in the World Cup, but the tournament has only just reached its conclusion, and has done so with home team India proving their superiority over their neighbours Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka had done well to beat all comers to get to the final of the massive global cricket event, but in the end it was to be India's day as the sun shone down on Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium.

It was the first time that the huge cricket-mad population of India had won the World Cup since 1983.

Sri Lanka didn't let the occasion get to them, and managed to smash a mighty 91 from their last ten overs to post 274 for 6 wickets. Mahela Jayawardene was particularly impressive, making a superb 103.

Coming in to bat with a target of 275, India lost Virender Sehwag and the veteran record-breaker Sachin Tendulkar early on to cause a few squeaky bums among the Indian supporters in the packed stands.

Fortunately for them, and unfortunately for Sri Lanka, Gautam Gambhir and captain Mahendra Dhoni took to the field and played out of their skins.

Gambhir ended his time in the crease out for 97, but captain Dhoni (who had pushed himself up the batting order ahead of Yuvraj Singh) finally found his best form at just the right moment to end the match, and the tournament, with a brilliantly level-headed and unbeaten 91.

With the floodlights lighting up the stadium and a roar from the crowd, the final ball of the day showed that India had scored 277 with 10 balls and six wickets to spare.

India now join Australia and the West Indies as the only sides to have won the Cricket World Cup more than once.

The win could now result in an interesting celebration by 20-year-old Indian swimwear model Poonam Pandey who said before the match that she would strip if India were victorious.