Australia's Unique World Cup Treble

Adam Gilchrist Finds Sparkling Form In Final

So the 2007 Cricket World Cup has come to an end, with Australia unbeaten not just in this tournament but the 2003 World Cup as well. Ricky Ponting's team is now the first nation to win the World Cup three consecutive times, after losing the 1996 final to Sri Lanka. Today's hero was Adam Gilchrist , who reached his century in only 72 balls, when not one of his teammates could score at the rate of a run a ball. The affable Gilchrist told Damien Fleming it had been a ``long time between drinks'' in terms of his one-day hundreds. Gilchrist's 149 at the top of the order took Australia to 281 for 4, to win by 53 runs in a rain-affected game.

The victory gives Australia a 29-game unbeaten streak in World Cup games. It also marks the last international performance by Glenn McGrath, the most accurate bowler of his generation. As the final came to a close in near-darkness, McGrath quipped: "Bit dark at the moment, but loving every minute."

And interestingly enough, the game was also remarkable for the fact that Mutthiah Muralitharan did not take a wicket against the best side in the world. But don't be fooled, This spinner is soon going to overtake Shane Warne's record haul of the most Test wickets in history.