Australia overpower Sri Lanka for a World Cup hat-trick

Bridgetown, Barbados, Apr 29 (UNI) Riding on Adam Gilchrist's stunning 104-ball 149, Australia quelled Sri Lanka's resistance to chalk out a 53-run win through a Duckworth-Lewis equation in the cricket World Cup final here and claim the title for the record third time in a row.

Along with the hat-trick of titles, three individual records showcased Australian dominance in this World Cup.

Man-of-the-match Adam Gilchrist, besides his blistering knock in the final, finished with 52 victims behind the stumps which is a new landmark for any wicket-keeper in the history of World Cup.

Player-of-the-tournament Glenn McGrath, who ended his glittering international career, added yet another victim to his tally and finished with 26 wickets, the most by any bowler in any World Cup.

And opener Matthew Hayden aggregated 659 runs from 11 matches which was only marginally less than Sachin Tendulkar's 671 in the 2003 World Cup Chasing a massive target of 282 in 38 overs, the Lions made a brave attempt through veteran Sanath Jayasuriya (63) and Kumara Sangakkara (54) with the duo putting up a 116-run second wicket stand off 106 balls.

A tragic-comic situation marred the final after umpires deemed the light too bad and offered it to the Sri Lankan batsmen who accepted it only to be told that they would have to come to the ground next day to complete the remaining three overs.

When the game was stopped, Sri Lanka were 206 for seven in the 33rd over in chase of a revised target of 269 from 36 overs. Even as the Australians celebrated their hat-trick of title wins and hugged each other, Sri Lankan skipper Mahela Jayawardene had a word with his counterpart Ricky Ponting and they decided to finish the match yesterday itself.

The stumps were rearranged and the Australians came out to the field, with the not out Sri Lankan batsmen Chaminda Vaas and Lasith Malinga again emerging from the pavilions with the Lankans 63 runs behind target and three overs left.

It was an impossible target and Sri Lanka finally ended up on 215 for eight at the end of 36th over, causing a replay of celeberations among the Australians.

Even when Sangakkara left in the 20th over at the team score of 123 for two, Sri Lanka kept themselves in the game with 22 runs over the next three overs before bad light forced the players indoors.

When they emerged after 10 minutes, at the score 149 for three in 24.5 overs, the equation had been revised to 269 from 36 overs.

Australia pressed on their fast bowlers and it became doubly difficult for the Sri Lankan batsmen to sight the ball. Jayawardene (19) was a victim of poor light when he fell leg before to Shane Watson at the total 156 for four in the 26th over.

Chamara Silva (21) and Tillakaratne Dilshan (14) made some meaty blows but the light wasn't in their favour nor any help came from the Australians who brought on their faster bowlers from two ends.

Both departed in quick successsion, Dilshan falling to a run-out at the non-striker's end and Silva, charging down the track and being bowled by left-arm spin of Michael Clarke who, earlier, had claimed the vital wicket of Sanath Jayasuriya in a similar manner.

Jayasuriya faced 67 balls and hit nine fours in his knock of 63 while Sangakkara made his 54 from 52 balls with six fours and one six.

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