THE ICC CRICKET WORLD CUP 2007 FINAL

AUSTRALIA  v   SRI LANKA

Australia :   281 for 4 (Gilchrist 149 – 104 balls, 8x6s, 13x4s )
Sri Lanka :   215 for 8 ( ST Jayasuriya 63, KC Sangakkara 54 )

Australia won by 53 runs   (Duckworth/Lewis method)

The Final brought together the tournament's two most-deserving teams, but not before rain had delayed the start for three hours and reduced the playing time to 38 overs an innings. With Australia in pursuit of a hat-trick of victories, after successes in 1999 and 2003, their stalwart opening pair swashbuckled their way to 172, Gilchrist ending with a scintillating and record-breaking 149. Even Muralitharan did not escape the fury of the onslaught. A glimmer of hope endured for Sri Lanka while Jayasuriya and Sangakkara remained at the crease together, but the typical relentlessness of Australia's approach realistically brought Sri Lanka's ambitions of glory to an end some overs before bad light, match officials' interpretations, enveloping darkness, and part-time spinners, sadly combined to bring this flagship contest to a bizarre conclusion……  

Man of the Match:   Adam Gilchrist

Man of the Series, in his final match for his country: Glen McGrath