Gilly Bomb leaves Lanka wounded

You just tell him that it’s a World Cup final, his eyes would lit up with a child-like excitement, his visage would wear the determination of a rocket scientist, his willow exude the hunger of a teenager waiting to gorge on some junk food. Adam Gilchrist is such a bloke who likes to turn it on when a big stage greets him.

After all, memories of Gilchrist coming to the party at the 1999 and 2003 World Cup finals only keeps all of us craving for more. And the rain-curtailed game against Sri Lanka at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, saw another big hand from Gilchrist who motored Australia to 281 for 8 in 38 overs.

Of course, Gilchrist has to thank the squash ball he stuffed inside his glove (to get a better grip) for that monumental 104-ball-149 – seeds of which were sown in the second over itself when he brought his strong wrists into play, whipping Chaminda Vaas to the square-leg fence.

The left-hander, however, was let off at his score on 31 when Dilhara Fernando missed a caught-and-bowled chance. There was no respite for the Sri Lankan bowlers after that as Gilchrist bludgeoned them to all parts of the Kensington Oval.

In fact, Gilchrist made Fernando rue that miss big-time when he whacked him for four, four and six, the last one almost took out the fire engine next to the 3Ws stand at long-on.

The twenty-odd thousand crowd at the Kensington Oval were thoroughly regaled with the rain of fours and sixes - as many as eight sixes were belted along with 13 fours, but one that seemed to be the best of the lot was a six over extra-cover off Dilhara Fernando. The absolute ease with which Gilchrist played through the line sending the ball banging the advertising hoardings was a visual treat, one which also brought up the Australian hundred in the 17^th over.

The biggest cheers, however, were reserved for Gilchrist when he smacked Lasith Malinga to the long-on boundary to arrive at his 15 ODI century off just 72 balls. He raised his bat and kept pointing to his left hand – one where he stuffed that squash ball.

Gilchrist was in such a destructive mood that his usually belligerent opening partner Matthew Hayden was compelled to play the sheet anchor role at the other end. Hayden’s contribution was just 38 in their 172-run opening run stand, clearly exemplifying who was dominating the opening stand.

It was a knock which deserves to be right up there with some of the best World Cup knocks ever played. Only to be on expected lines that it drew effusive praise from Australian captain Ricky Ponting. “Gilly’s innings in the final, as I have been flat out telling him, it was unbelievable, that was the one difference between the two teams in the final.”

Even former India World Cup winning captain Kapil Dev described it as a dream knock. “Gilchrist played like a dream... It was a once in a lifetime innings... I’m not only referring to the number of runs he got, but the manner in which he got them... Such was his dominance that the in-form (Matthew) Hayden, at the other end, looked like someone totally out of place.”

Australia’s fourth World Cup win was sealed when Sri Lanka accepted the offer of bad light after the six ball of the 33^rd over was bowled even as the closing moments were played in near-darkness. It was Australia’s third World Cup win in a row and also extended their winning run in the showpiece event to 29 games since May, 1999.