One billion cheers as Sachin gets dream finale

INDIA’S favourite cricketing son Sachin Tendulkar will play a World Cup final in his home town of Mumbai after helping his country beat Pakistan by 29 runs in Mohali.

Tendulkar was named man-of-the-match for his top score of 85 in India’s 260 for nine, a total they duly defended in yesterday’s semi-final that saw the usually teeming streets of the sub-continent virtually empty as tens of millions took the afternoon off to watch the game on TV, joining an estimated global audience of one billion.

The ‘Little Master’ can now look forward to taking on Sri Lanka at the Wankhede Stadium on Saturday as India set their sights on at last following up their maiden World Cup win 28 years ago.