Top 5 ODI centuries for a losing cause

3. Mahela Jayawardene 103* vs India (ICC World Cup, Mumbai, 2011)

Sri Lanka lost their second consecutive World Cup final as India went on to lift the cup at the Wankhede stadium on April 2, 2011. Mahela scored 103 not out.

Sangakkara tried to get some runs, Malinga did bag two wickets, Muralitharan tried to get Dhoni out; the whole Sri Lankan team chipped in with their efforts. But it just didn’t happen for them. It was simply India’s day.

Mahela took the crease with almost 100 balls having been bowled and the score reading only 60/2. He decided to get his eye in first, dealing only in singles and doubles.

When half the side was out, the score was still below 200 with only about 10 overs left in the innings. That was when he got together with Kulasekara to put together a 66 run-stand off just 49 balls.

Perera walked in after that to score 22 off just 9 deliveries, taking the score to 274. Thus, they managed to score more than 90 runs in the last 10 overs.

Mahela’s knock lasted a total of 88 deliveries and featured 13 fours struck with impeccable timing. This was the first instance when somebody had scored a century in a World Cup final and had ended up on the losing side, as India lifted the trophy after a long wait of 28 years.

Captain Dhoni bagged the man of the match for his scintillating 91 off 79 deliveries.