Australia won an unprecedented third straight World Cup yesterday with a 53-run win over Sri Lanka in a rain-affected final. Sri Lanka faltered to 215 for eight in fading light in the final at Kensington Oval.
The light was so poor, the Sri Lanka batsmen seemed to eventually concede defeat with three overs still to go and Australia began celebrating in front of its fans. However, the teams came back out and played out the final balls in near darkness.Earlier, the fans had to bear with the inclement weather as early morning rain broke only for the toss. And after Ponting won the toss and decided to bat, the rain came again and although not heavy, was persistent enough to keep the players off the arena until 12.15 pm. The match had been reduced to 38 overs per side.
Matt Hayden and Gilchrist then set about providing the entertainment, scoring at a phenomenal rate. The most successful opening pair in world cricket, underlined their reputation on the biggest stage, posting 172 for the first wicket off just 22.3 overs. Led by opener man-of-the-match Adam Gilchrist’s 149, Australia had reached a huge total of 281 for four after rain forced the game to be shortened to 38 overs from the standard 50.
The target was revised downwards after further showers swept through Bridgetown and cut another two overs off the game. Sanath Jayasuriya and Kumar Sangakkara hit half centuries to keep Sri Lanka in with a slim chance of repeating its 1996 triumph against the same opponent, but a burst of wickets for Australia and tricky conditions pegged it back.
Gilchrist’s total was the highest ever score in a World Cup final and put Australia firmly on course to a 23rd straight tournament win in front of a large crowd at the 28,000-seat stadium.
The imposing total looked an easy win for the world champions but the Sri Lankans did not go down without a fight. However, the turning point of the Sri Lankan innings came with the tame dismissal of Sangakkara, caught by Ricky Ponting off Brad Hogg for 54 that came off 51 balls with five fours and one six. Jayasuriya who brought up his half century off 51 balls with eight fours, followed a little while after, bowled by the left arm spin of Michael Clarke for 63.
Jayawardene was the next man out leg before to Watson for 19, followed by Tillekeratne Dilshan for 17 and Chamara Silva for 21. Clarke finished with 2/30, while Glenn McGrath, who was voted man of the series, in the final match of his career finished with 1/31.
