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Cricket world cup final Preview

After very long run now its the time for big one, the Final of this cricket world cup 2007 tournament. Sri Lanka beat New Zealand in first semi final by 81 runs and Australia won by 7 wickets in second one. So we have Sri Lanka and Australia battle for the cricket world cup final 2007. This will be played at Bridgetown on 28th April, 2007.

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka have played outstanding cricket throughout the tournament and deserve to be the finalist. Every Sri Lankans are committed and they know very well their role to play. They were thoroughly professional from the be gaining of the tournament and very well lead by Jayaverdne. They have won 8 out of 10 matches played so far in this tournaments and emerging as the more and more batter team. Undoubtedly they are very good fielding side. On the bowling side they have Malinga and Vaas who are capable of taking early wickets. And they have all time great Murli in the middle with Jaysuriya, Dilshan and Arnold as an other options. The major problem they had about the top batting order. Jaysuriya is not at its peak and Sangakkara is not in good form. Moreover they are laking power hitter, like Watson and Symonds Australia have, who can fire in the slog overs.

Australia

Australia simply are the best so far in this world cup 2007 series. They have won all the 10 matches they played in the tournament. Lately they crushed South Africa playing like real champions. They are the best fielding side who generally do not miss direct throw on the stumps. They have various alternate in the bowling department with swings from Bracken and great McGrath and speed from Tait. The left arm spinner Hogg too bowled well in this tournaments and have options like Watson, Symonds, Clarke for bowling. In the batting, they are the best team. They have the best opening pair with Hayden Gilchrist providing solid start to their innings and powerful middle order Clark, Ponting and Hussey are in very good form. They have Watson and Symonds are the power hitter who can explore their innings in the slog overs. Their lowest score of 322/6 batting first in this tournament and Michael Hussey needed rarely, tells about the power of their batting. This makes them the most favorite team to win this 2007 world cup final.

Previous encounter in the final

Before this, Sri Lanka and Australia played in the final of world cup 1996 at Lahore, Pakistan. It was the first time Sri Lanka playing in the final beat Australia by 7 wickets. Batting first Australia made 241/7, Mark Taylor scored 74. With the help of remarkable hundred from Arvinda de Silva (107*) and Gurusinha (65) made Sri Lanka the winner of 1996 world cup.

Australia v Sri Lanka history

In the history of cricket world cup they meet 7 times before with Australia wins 5 times and Sri Lanka 2 times. This includes the match at Colombo in 1996 in which Australia conceded match due to safety reason and Sri Lanka declared winners. Overall they played 64 ODIs, Australia wins 42 times and Sri Lanka wins 20 times with 2 No Results.

Australia history in the finals

This is the 6th time Australia playing in the cricket world cup final. In their previous 5 appearances they won the most 3 times, this could be their hat trick world cup win. First time they played in the final in 1975 the first ever world cup held, beaten by West Indies. They won against England in 1987 and lost to Sri Lanka in 1996. And they won in 1999 and 2003 by beating Pakistan and India respectively.

Overall we have two outstanding teams playing in the final of this world cup tournament. We hope for more entertaining cricket here in the final.

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