Australia never looked like losing it.
Sri Lanka, a team containing the world's best spin bowler, the most unorthodox paceman and the second-most successful one-day batsman of all time, gave Ricky Ponting's team its biggest test of the World Cup on Saturday and still lost the final in Bridgetown by 53 runs.
Victory brought Australia an unprecedented third straight title and confirmed its status as the best team ever to play the one-day game.
PHOTO: AFP
"It's an amazing feeling," Ponting said. "To be involved with this group of players, right through the World Cup especially, I am unbelievably proud of what we have achieved."
Ponting, retiring pace bowler Glenn McGrath and man-of-the-match Adam Gilchrist all picked up their third winner's medals as Australia cruised past Sri Lanka.
Opener Gilchrist shrugged off his poor tournament form to hit 149 and lead Australia to a huge total of 281 for four after rain forced the game to be shortened to 38 overs from the standard 50.
Sri Lanka had their target revised downwards to 269 after a further shower swept the Kensington Oval and, despite Sanath Jayasuriya and Kumar Sangakkara hitting half centuries, only made it to 215-8.
There was to be no repeat of Sri Lanka's 1996 triumph against the same opponent, just a fitting send off for McGrath and departing coach John Buchanan.
"It's closure on some amazing careers," Gilchrist said. "Much will be said and he deserves all of it, but also John Buchanan. He has been amazing to Australian cricket."
Muttiah Muralitharan tried to confuse players with his craft and Lasith Malinga fired the ball down with incredible precision. But Gilchrist and Australia still prevailed.
Gilchrist's total was the highest ever score in a World Cup final and put Australia firmly on course to a 23rd straight tournament win.
He was dropped twice, first a hard caught and bowled chance to Dilhara Fernando when he was on 31 and then by wicketkeeper Sangakkara the ball after he reached his century.
Gilchrist smashed 13 fours and eight sixes in a 104-ball innings after Australia won the toss and chose to bat first.
It was the lefthander's first World Cup century and he reached it in 72 balls, 10 balls faster than Clive Lloyd's hundred in the 1975 final against Australia at Lord's. He also passed Ponting's 140 not out against India in 2003 as the biggest individual score in a final.
"Its been frustrating because I've been making starts and not converting so its great to get a big score," Gilchrist said.
Sri Lanka pressured Australia more than any team in their previous 10 tournament matches but were unable to compete fully after the Aussie batsmen's huge efforts against some wayward bowling.
"I thought we played some really good cricket but it was a very special innings by Gilly in a final," Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene said.
Gilchrist reached his 50 in 43 deliveries and moved from 50 to 100 in only 29. He was back to his usual ebullient self after a moderate World Cup by his standards.
The lefthander was eventually dismissed caught at mid on by Chamara Silva in the 31st over after a 50-run partnership with Ponting.
Jayasuriya and Sangakkara scored fluently when it was Sri Lanka's turn to bat.
Sangakkara fell for 54 and Jayasuriya was out shortly after, bowled by Michael Clarke for 63 but Jayawardene made just 19 before he was out leg-before-wicket to Shane Watson.
Russel Arnold was caught by Gilchrist off McGrath, who marked his final match before retiring with a record 71st World Cup wicket.
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