From rxpgnews.com
Australia on 'hat-trick' in World Cup final vs. Sri Lanka
By IANS,
Apr 27, 2007 - 6:03:30 PM
Bridgetown -, April 27 - It will be 'oriental' magic versus professionalism when Sri Lanka and Australia clash in the $5 million ninth World Cup final here Saturday.
Three-time champions Australia are just one step from making history by completing a hat-trick of titles in what is a repeat of the 1996 final.
No country has won three successive World Cups since its launch 32 years ago in England in 1975. Only two countries - the West Indies and Australia - have won it twice in succession. And now Australia, unbeaten in this edition, are on the threshold of history.
If Australia win the title, captain Ricky Ponting will become only the second captain to lift the trophy twice. Former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd won the cup in 1975 and 1979. India spoiled their hat-trick bid by beating them in the 1983 final.
Australia have won all 10 matches in this tournament, including a seven-wicket thrashing handed to South Africa in the second semi-final in St. Lucia Wednesday.
They have looked the most equipped of the 16 teams in fray in the tournament. Needless to say, they will start as overwhelming favourites against Sri Lanka in the final at the Kensington Oval.
Sri Lanka, on the other hand, have won eight of their 10 matches, including their impressive 81-run win over New Zealand in the first semi-final. The islanders too have played like a well-oiled machine, exhibiting their oriental wares.
Of course, both teams are also aware that the winner will also receive $2.24 million, besides the glittering trophy while the runners-up will have to be content with $1 million.
So, both teams look determined to win the title, and there is little doubt they will put their best foot forward.
'I think we can win. What Australia has done has no relevance to Saturday,' said the straight-talking Sri Lanka's Australian coach Tom Moody, who will be leaving the job after this match.
'If Sri Lanka bring their 'A' game it is good enough to beat Australia,' said the man who helped Australia win two of the three World Cups he played.
Although Moody was not part of Mark Taylor's Australian side that lost to Sri Lanka in Lahore in the 1996 final, he knows the winning feeling as he was part of the title triumphs in 1987 and 1999.
Ponting is also determined to win the second World Cup as skipper.
'When the big games come, Australia raises its performance. We've been building our performance and can improve further in the final,' said the prolific batsman who was also part of the 1999 cup-winning side.
Ponting's counterpart Mahela Jayawardene said he had immense faith in the brand of cricket that Sri Lanka play, which is completely different from that of Australia.
'We have the Sri Lankan style of playing cricket. Australia has the Australian style of playing cricket. We know how to win matches the way we play,' he said referring to the final against a rampaging opponent.
'We have our own plans and according to that we play cricket,' he pointed out.
Australia defeated South Africa by seven wickets in a one-sided semi-final while Sri Lanka beat New Zealand by 81 runs to set up the grand finale to the 51-match, 49-day tournament.
For Sri Lanka, Jayawardene -, Sanath Jayasuriya -, Chamara Silva -, Kumar Sangakkara -, Upul Tharanga -, Muttiah Muralitharan -, Lasith Malinga - and Chaminda Vaas - have the players in form in the tournament.
Although Jayasuriya has cracked two centuries and one half-century, it was Jayawardene who guided the team into the final by a highly responsible hundred against New Zealand in the semi-final in Kingston.
He would be in supremely confident going into the final, as would be Muralitharan who took four wickets to bowl out the Kiwis, who were strong contenders for the title.
Fast bowlers Shaun Tait and Glenn McGrath bowled Australia to an emphatic win over perennial chokers South Africa with four and three-wicket hauls respectively.
The Aussie batsmen were, however, not tested fully as South Africa's meagre 149-run total never allowed them that. Ponting would have liked his batsmen to have a good stint in the middle ahead of the final.
Matthew Hayden -, Ponting -, Michael Clarke -, McGrath -, Tait - and Brad Hogg 20) have been the top performers so far for Australia.
The final, as indeed was the World Cup itself, will also be the farewell tournament for a few players and coaches.
McGrath, Jayasuriya, Muralitharan, Chaminda Vaas, Russel Arnold as well as Marvan Atapattu -- the Sri Lankan who did not play a single match in the tournament - would be bidding bye from the two teams.
For the two coaches, Moody and John Buchanan, it would also be the last match with their respective sides, so the final would also carry a bit of nostalgia.
This was the first time that the World Cup was staged in the West Indies. A bit of its sheen and excitement evaporated with the first-round exit of the 1983 champions India and the 1992 winners Pakistan - two of the most glamorous teams of world cricket.
But for minnows like Ireland, who stunned Pakistan to push them out of the 16-nation competition, and Bangladesh, who upset India, it was a good and fruitful experience.
The next World Cup will be held in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in 2011.
Teams:
Australia: Ricky Ponting -, Adam Gilchrist -, Nathan Bracken, Michael Clarke, Brad Haddin, Matthew Hayden, Brad Hodge, Brad Hogg, Michael Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Stuart Clark, Glenn McGrath, Andrew Symonds, Shaun Tait and Shane Watson
Sri Lanka: Mahela Jayawardene -, Kumar Sangakkara -, Sanath Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga, Marvan Atapattu, Russel Arnold, Tillekeratne Dilshan, Chamara Silva, Malinga Bandara, Farveez Maharoof, Chaminda Vaas, Muttiah Muralitharan, Lasith Malinga, Dilhara Fernando and Nuwan Kulasekera
Umpires: Steve Bucknor - and Aleem Dar -
TV umpire: Rudi Koertzen -
Reserve umpire: Brent Bowden -
Match referee: Jeff Crowe -
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