Australia crush Sri Lanka

Bridgetown: Opener Adam Gilchrist provided the thunder and lightning, racing to the fastest century in a final as Australia lifted the World Cup trophy for a record third successive time after crushing Sri Lanka in a rain-shortened final on Saturday.

Gilchrist smashed 149 - the highest individual score in a World Cup final - to propel Australia to 281-4 from their allotted 38 overs before the champions restricted Sri Lanka to 215 for eight.

Australia won by 53 runs under the Duckworth-Lewis system after Sri Lanka's target was revised to 269 in 36 overs.

Earlier, an uneasy truce was called between the organisers and the elements before the latter could launch one final attempt and hijack the final.

Sri Lanka rode on the back of a defiant 63 from veteran Sanath Jayasuriya and a half century by Kumar Sangakkara to post a spirited reply till rain disrupted play.

Australian captain Ricky Ponting called correctly and opted to bat on a pitch which his counterpart Jayawardene claimed would offer no significant gifts to both batsman and bowler.

Gilchrist lived up to his billing as the most dangerous one-day international batsman with the highest individual innings in a final.

In all, Gilchrist faced just 104 balls with eight sixes and 13 fours as Australia set a daunting target even as sporadic showers sprayed the Kensington Oval.

In the Sri Lankan innings, Upul Tharanga was the first man out caught behind by Gilchrist off Nathan Bracken for six with the total on seven in the third over.

Kumar Sangakkara, who added 116 with Jayasuriya for the second wicket to give Sri Lanka hope, was next man out for 52, caught by Australia skipper Ricky Ponting in the 20th over. But the dismissals of Jayasuriya and skipper Mahela Jayawardene sealed their fate.