Australia clinches tri-series finals

Australian fieldsman Andrew Symonds, right, is congratulated by teammates after catching the ball to dismiss Sri Lankan batsman Marvan Atapattu during the third and last triangular one-day series final in Brisbane, Australia, yesterday. PHOTO: AFP

Adam Gilchrist battered a century from 67 balls in a 196-run opening stand with Simon Katich to guide Australia to a nine-wicket win over Sri Lanka yesterday and to a 2-1 victory in the finals of cricket's limited overs tri-series.

Gilchrist smashed his way to his 14th one-day century -- the fastest ever in a one-day match in Australia -- and, with 13 fours and four sixes, went on to 122 as the dynamo behind Australia's win with 27 balls to spare.

Katich carried his bat through the Australian innings in hot, tiring conditions and had made 107 from 142 balls when captain Ricky Ponting (28 not out) struck the winning single in the 46th over.

Sri Lanka set a competitive target of 266 for nine after winning the toss: Mahela Jayawardene making 86, Kumar Sangakkara 59 and Russel Arnold 76 from 71 balls.

Gilchrist and Katich made a run chase which should have been demanding seem derisory as they plundered 196 runs in a partnership lasting 32.2 overs.

Gilchrist sprinted to a half century from 38 balls with seven fours and a six while Katich played the foil, reaching his 50 from 80 balls and helping Australia to 100 in 17.5 overs.

Gilchrist's second 50 came from only 29 balls, including three more sixes, as the partnership approached the Australian first wicket record of 212, set by Geoff Marsh and David Boon 20 years ago.

In winning and clinching another tri-series trophy, Australia surpassed the highest winning score made in a limited overs match in Brisbane which had been its own 235 against the West Indies in 2001.

Earlier, Andrew Symonds was a livewire in the field, taking three catches to help restrain Sri Lanka's scoring in ideal batting conditions.

He held catches off Nathan Bracken to dismiss Sanath Jayasuriya for 6 and Marvan Atapattu for 7 as Sri Lanka slipped to 28-2 in the eighth over.

His catch to dismiss Chamara Kapugedera (9) off Mick Lewis was a brilliant feat of athleticism but was bettered by Ponting's catch off Bracken to remove Arnold.

"Everyone knows fielding's a big part of one-day cricket and if you can hold all your catches you can really put some pressure on the opposition," Symonds said.

"We really pride ourselves on our fielding and it was a big part of our win today."

Jayawardene and Sangakkara re-established the Sri Lankan innings after the rapid fire loss of the openers, putting on exactly 100 runs in 21 overs. Sangakkara faced 85 balls and hit five fours in a measured innings which gave Sri Lanka a launching pad for a larger total.

Jayawardene batted a further 12 overs, putting on 76 with Arnold and reaching his highest score in the series from 91 balls with eight boundaries.

Arnold stayed until the 49th over, reaching his third half-century and highest total of the series. He finished with 322 runs in 10 innings at an average of 53.66.

Sangakkara ended the series with the leading aggregate by a Sri Lankan player of 469 runs at an average of 42.63.