The Final Cricket World Cup 2007

Australia win the world cup championship tournament 2007

Cricket world cup 2007 final played between Australia and Sri Lanka at Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados on 28 April 2007. This was a 38 over match due to delay caused by rain. Winning the toss and batting first Australia set a big target of 282 in 38 overs for Sri Lanka. In reply Sri Lanka approached nicely in the begaining but after fall of Jayasuriya they just cannot break the increasing run rate. In the end they fall short of 53 runs.

Australia Innings

As usual Hayden and Gilchrist started Australian innings. Hayden was looking quite today as Gilchrist on the other hand playing own style crushing the Sri Lankan attack. They reached to the toatal of 50 in 11th over without loosing any wicket. Fernando drop Gilchrist on his own bowling when he was on 31 though it was very difficult but these are the only chances you get while playing against team like Australia. Runs are coming easily for Australia when Murli brought into the attack in 12th over. Meanwhile Gilchrist completed his 50 in just 43 balls and continue to dominate bowling on the other hand Hayden was providing nice support to him. Their run rate moved above 6 when Gilchrist hit 2 towering sixers to Dilshan in 15th over. Murli on the other hand not allowing much room to them initially. Fernando brought back to the attack and immediately welcome by Gilchrist sixer and that brought their opening partnership to cross 100 in 17th over.

Nothing was working for Sri Lanka, at Half way Australia were on 135 will all 10 wickets intact. By the time Gilchrist completed his 15th ODI hundred in just 72 balls with 8 4s and 6 6s. Once again he was dropped by Sangakkara this time too was difficult one. Partnerships crossed 150 in just 128 balls and after this some relief for Sri Lanka as Hayden caught by Jayawardene when he was trying to loft Malinga when they were on 172. Immediately after this once again Gilchrist dropped by C Silva on 132 by the time Australia cross 200 in 27.3 overs. Finally a great great innings comes to an end when Gilchrist was just 1 short of his 150, got caught when he was trying to pull the ball and it takes an edge of the bat. After fall of Gilchrist run rate dropped a bit as Ponting was not looking on his own touch and finding difficult himselft playing shots. They past above 250 when Ponting hits his first six to Malinga in 34.4 overs. But they failed to take an advantage the openers given to them and only scores 59 in last 8 overs after Gilchrist out. In the end they manage to set the big target for Sri Lanka with the help of one of the best world cup innings from Gilchrist.

Australia Score 281/4(38)

Gilchrist 149, Hayden 38, Ponting 37, Symonds 18*, Watson 3, Clarke 8*,
Sri Lanka Bowling:
Vaas 8/54/0 Malinga 8/49/2 Fernando 8/74/1 Murali 7/44/0 Dilshan 2/23/0 Jayasuriya 5/33/0

Sri Lanka Innings

Sri Lanka lost Tharanga early caught by Gilchrist on swinging delivery from Bracken. After this Sangakkara and Jayasuriya started playing quite sensibly. Jayasuriya was looking good on his own touch moved their score 50 in 11th overs. There seems no movemnt in the bowl and they coming nicely to bat on and their 50 partnership up in 61 balls. They moved pass compare to Australia score in 14th over when Sangakkara hit consecutive 6,4,4 to McGrath. The needed partnership was building as Sangakkara and Jayasuriya contine hammering Australia Bowling attack and took just 27 balls to complete second fifty of their innings, 100 in 15.3 overs. Spins came to the attack now by the time Jayasuriya completes his fifty and their partneship of 100. They need 171 more runs to win in 20 overs with 9 wickets left. Sangakkara completed his 40th fifty in 50 balls, but immediately caught when he was trying to pull Hogg at mid wicket when he was 54.

Clark brought to attack and he done a trick bowled Jayasuriya when he was trying to down the trak, the ball kept low and hit on off stump. Big wicket for Australia and the match was turning bit towards their way. It has started raining when 13.1 overs left and by the time their innings reduced to 36 overs and they need 120 more to win in 11.1 overs. Jayawardene fall lbw to Watson very next over after rain stopped. Everything now was in hands of C Silva and Dilshan and they continue to fighting but the required rate was moving up and up reached to 12 an over and they needed 84 in 42 balls. Wickets was not a problem but it was very difficult to break Australian tight bowling attack. Wickets were falling now as they were trying to do something extraordinary. In the end they fall short of 53 runs.

Sri Lanka Score 215/8(36)

Tharanga 6, Jayasuriya 63, Sangakkara 54, Jayawardene 19, C Silva 21, Dilshan 14, Arnold 1, Vaas 11*, Malinga 10, Fernando 1*
Australia Bowling:
Bracken 6/34/1, Tait 6/42/0, McGrath 7/31/1, Watson 7/49/1, Hogg 3/19/1, Clarke 5/33/2, Symonds 2/6/1