RESULT
Final, Bridgetown, April 28, 2007, ICC World Cup
PrevNext
(38/38 ov) 281/4
(36/36 ov, T:269) 215/8

Australia won by 53 runs (D/L method)

Player Of The Match
149 (104) & 2 catches
adam-gilchrist
Player Of The Series
26 wkts
glenn-mcgrath
New
SL
Full commentary
end of over 361 run
SL: 215/8CRR: 5.97 
Chaminda Vaas11 (21b)
Dilhara Fernando1 (6b)
Andrew Symonds 2-0-6-1
Michael Clarke 5-0-33-2

Well, that's about it. Much will be written about the tournament in the coming days but for now from the whole Cricinfo commentary team, it's goodnight and thank you for staying with us over the last seven weeks. Australia have won the World Cup for the third time in a row. Will they make it four in four in Asia in 2011?

7.08pm At last we are ready to hand over the trophy. And it's Sonn who passes it it to Ponting and the skipper is immediately showered in champagne by team-mates and ticker-tape from off stage. Steel drums burst into life as the Australians adopt the traditional pose for the cameras. The dancers start their act on the outfield. Let the party begin.

7.06pm Tony Cozier interviews Ricky Ponting. "Aw look, an amazing feeling actually. We've got a great support here today, too. Unbelievably proud of what we've been able to achieve. Everything came together for us really well in the final."

7.04pm And now to present the medals to the Australians ... Percy Sonn. Oh Good. Misread things again. It should be a Caribbean legend and not a self-important and unpopular ICC official. Cheers for the players in the squad as they trot up ... McGrath gets a louder than average cheer.

7.02pm Garry Sobers up to present the Player-of-the-Tournament award to ,,, Glenn McGrath. Not a bad way to sign off! "I've really enjoyed this tournament. I just went out there and had fun," he says.

6.59pm Everton Weekes up to present the Man-of-the-Match award to Adam Gilchrist. An easy choice. "A satisfying day and a satisfying finish," he beams. "It's closure on some amazing careers - Glenn McGrath, John Buchanan. "The great thing about walking out to bat with Haydos...it's about the partnership. I want to thank all the team for continuing to show the great belief in me. It's a high standard that these guys and when you're not reaching them, you start to doubt yourself. I want to thank those guys for helping me."

When asked to describe this tournament he calls it: "The never-ending one."

6.58pm Ken Gordon back to present medals to the third and fourth umpires.

6.54pm Now here is Malcolm Speed to present medals to the Sri Lankans ... they come up in turn and are cheered. Jayawardene is interviewed and answers questions warmly and well.

6.51pm Chris Dehring is again booed as he presents a medal to Jeff Crowe, the match referee. And Ken Gordon gets more boos as he presents medals to the umpires ... they get warm applause, rightly. Dehring comes forward ... again ... to present a medallion to the groundsman.

6.46pm Percy Sonn up to say a word. Oh good. Usual platitudes ... thanking everyone who has "contributed to the success of the tournament". Well, he has been in South Africa for most of it, so he can be forgiven. Just what the crowd wants after a long day, much of it in the rain. Percy in full list-achievements-and-records mode. Can we see the cup presented please? Nope ...he's thanking global partners and generous sponsors. This man can really fail to grasp what the people want ... and not even a passing mention of Bob Woolmer.

6.44pm Tony Cozier introduces the dignitaries. Sonn sneaks in almost unnoticed. Speed gets booed. Good. Ken Gordon gets booed. Chris Dehring gets booed ... a lot. Everton Weekes gets a loud cheer. Garry Sobers gets a really loud cheer. Cozier thanks the volunteers, and they have done a great job in trying circumstances, and the fans and the people of the Caribbean. And then he ruins it by thanking the daft Mello.

6.42pm We have arc lights in place which have lit up the outfield ... not sure why they could not have been used in the last few overs, but the rules almost certainly forbade them. But it means that the dancers will get their moment. Almost ready for the presentations and accompanying ceremony.

6.40pm It's really a sad finish for the Caribbean. We have dancers who have been rehearsing for ages for the post-match celebrations out in the middle around the podium, but nobody can see them as it is now night. Clearly, nobody stopped to consider that the game might not finish on time. Meanwhile, Australia are lapping up the acclaim of their supporters, as well they might.

6.30pm Congratulations to Australia who were the best team from the first match and maintained their relentlessly high standard throughout. Sri Lanka gave them a game but on the day came up just short.

There's a certain irony that cricket's four-yearly showcase ended in farce ... Australia, Sri Lanka, the Caribbean and millions of spectators deserved more but given what has gone before today, it was almost inevitable. You can spin it all you like, this tournament has not done the game any favours and people at the top, if they had any decency, would be contemplating their futures. But we all know that won't happen.

The late start and finish at least means that the post-match waffle from the great and good of the game - the officials, not the players - will be mercifully curtailed. I imagine that Malcolm Speed is relieved given that he will hardly be expecting a reception accorded to a returning hero. Percy Sonn could set a record here ... he was booed in 2003 after his trouser episode, so could achieve a unique double.

Australia acknowledge their supporters on a lap of honour as the lights from the stands dazzle out into the night.

Australia win by 53 runs Smiles all round as the two teams shake hands. They have given us good entertainment today. Adam Gilchrist: "We're thrilled. Great support, yeah. Amazing feeling. Really pleasing to do it [get a hundred] on an important day."

"Bit dark at the moment," deadpans McGrath, "but loving every minute."

The helpers are erecting the podium for the presentations ... in complete darkness.

All shake hands with McGrath as he heads off with a stump. He really deserved to go out on a high, and while he has in that he finishes with a winner's medal, the end has been so unsatisfactory.

Australia celebrate, as well they might. The ground is strangely quiet, as if the fans know they have again been sold down the river. Australia huddle again. Ponting's all a-beaming. We're getting a strange sense of deja vu.

35.6
Symonds to Vaas, no run

missed, a loud appeal, not out but mercifully it's all over and Gilchrist lets out a roar

Boos ring out

35.5
Symonds to Vaas, no run

missed, padded into the leg side

35.4
Symonds to Vaas, no run

missed and off the pad

35.3
1
Symonds to Fernando, 1 run

swung into the leg side

Symonds just getting through this as quickly as he can

35.2
Symonds to Fernando, no run

blocked

35.1
Symonds to Fernando, no run

left alone

end of over 353 runs
SL: 214/8CRR: 6.11 RRR: 55.00
Chaminda Vaas11 (18b)
Dilhara Fernando0 (3b)
Michael Clarke 5-0-33-2
Andrew Symonds 1-0-5-1
34.6
Clarke to Vaas, no run

sorry, no idea as we simply could not see

TV has just shown the stumpcam picture. It is pitch black, seriously, you cannot see a thing

34.6
2w
Clarke to Fernando, 2 wide

missed sweep down the leg side, Dar signals a wide to the delight of the umpires who feel he has behaved like a complete fool

34.5
Clarke to Fernando, no run

blocked again, almost mocking the umpires

34.4
Clarke to Fernando, no run

forward defensive shot

34.3
Clarke to Fernando, no run

padded into the off side

"I think Mello should do the presentation ceremony," says Matt Drake. "It would be in keeping with this farce."

34.2
1
Clarke to Vaas, 1 run

driven to long-on

Clarke pushing through the over

34.1
Clarke to Vaas, no run

floated up and blocked

The post-match entertainers are waiting patiently on the edge of the boundary. You have to feel for them...

end of over 345 runs • 1 wicket
SL: 211/8CRR: 6.20 RRR: 29.00
Chaminda Vaas10 (15b)
Andrew Symonds 1-0-5-1
Michael Clarke 4-0-30-2

The third umpire takes his time. Go on Rudi, no hurry ... and eventually he gives it out. Boos in the crowd are for the ridiculousness of the situation and not for the players

33.6
W
Symonds to Malinga, OUT

a big swing and a miss, Gilchrist whips off the bails, Dar calls for the third umpire as he could never have seen that far with any certainty

Lasith Malinga st †Gilchrist b Symonds 10 (6b 0x4 1x6 6m) SR: 166.66
33.5
1
Symonds to Vaas, 1 run

flicked to midwicket

33.4
Symonds to Vaas, no run

driven back to Symonds who hears it coming towards him and fields

33.3
1
Symonds to Malinga, 1 run

gently floated up, driven to long-on

33.2
1
Symonds to Vaas, 1 run

slogged to midwicket

33.1
2
Symonds to Vaas, 2 runs

outside edge through backward point. Even the TV cameras are struggling to follow this

Symonds bowling

end of over 3311 runs
SL: 206/7CRR: 6.24 RRR: 21.00
Lasith Malinga9 (4b 1x6)
Chaminda Vaas6 (11b)
Michael Clarke 4-0-30-2
Glenn McGrath 7-0-31-1

6.17pm It's what is traditionally known as night. It is so dark but the umpires are now saying the match will continue. Heads should roll for this. The man is out putting the 30-yard circles back out. He needs a torch to do so. The batsmen are heading out to the middle accompanied by a guide dog.

6.15pmThis is a very unfunny joke, almost as if cricket was determined to show the world that it couldn't organise a whatsit in a brewery. The umpires are insisting the game is not over, everyone else thinks it is. Aleem Dar seems to be saying they can all come back tomorrow.

Steve Bucknor's looking quite embarrassed in the background, letting Dar lead the process. Jayawardene is now on the pitch to talk to Bucknor and Bowden.

6.12pmAnd the farce continues! Now the stands for the ceremony have been brought on... and are off again, as the umpires shoo them away. My word. Here's a man who can tell you more, it's Martin.

Now what's this? Aleem Dar is having a word with Australia, telling them they can't yet celebrate. Officially this match isn't over. You couldn't make it up. You don't have to.

In fairness, this doesn't stop Australia celebrating. McGrath's all of a beam and there's a thumbs up and a smile for the tv cameras.

The light's been offered and Sri Lanka have taken it - meaning Australia have won the World Cup again. They certainly deserve it and are huddling in celebration. A bit of a damp squib of an ending, which is of course fitting.

32.6
2
Clarke to Malinga, 2 runs

width outside off and that's worked out off the back foot to gully

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