CWC Final - Australia v Sri Lanka

Royale with Cheese

So after god knows how long, the world cup final is eventually here. It does really seem like last year sometime when the West Indies beat Pakistan in the opening game of the tournament.

Predictions????

Australia to win

Their batting line up is just too strong and Sangakkara and Jayasuriya look out of touch. South Africa decided all out attack was the way to beat the Ozzies, and look how that worked out for them. I don't think even Murali can win this one for Sri Lanka. Sure Australia will probably have 150 on the board by the time he gets to bowl anyway.

Marshy

Yeah it'd certainly be a shock if the aussies were beaten. But if any team can beat them it would be SL. They're the only other team who have really consistently performed in the big games in this tournament. They know how to beat them in a WC final too.

The one major weakness in their line up is the middle order. Silva and dilshan are a bit hit and miss while russel arnold is over the hill. Compare that with symonds, hussey, clarke and watson down the order, fairly formidable. So that may well count against SL. In the bowling department their right up there with the aussies so it all depends on how they bat.

DMC

This is tight, but I think the Aussies will win, just because its a bouncy wicket. The SL batsman may have no answer to that.

Ideally, for SL, its bat second. They beat the Aussies in the final that way in 1996. The only thing favouring bowling last is the pressure Murali can put the Aussies under chasing.

The Aussies, but only just. I expect a tight one.

Rjd2

It has to be Australia, the final has to be something special after such an anti climatic tournament. The semi finals were really bad along with a lot of the group games and super 8 matches well were not that good now were they? Sri Lanka have to get rid of the openers early, Clarke is a fine player but he is not as experienced as the others in the team and I am still worried about Hussey.
P.S Australia are 4/5 to score more boundaries than Sri Lanka,they have much more hitters and I think thats a cracking bet

county

Australia to win,crap odds though

match betting aussies 4-11,Sri Lanka 15-8

Quixote1064

Been lurking in this forum all through the World Cup. Thanks, guys for adding to the experience. As to the final itself, for years I've found the sneering arrogance of McGrath et al. irritating in the extreme; so, I hope SL win. If Jayasuriya has a good day and Sangakara rediscovers his batting form, they have the bowlers to do it. A few ifs there but here's hoping

pwd

I think Sri Lanka have a better chance than the odds suggest. Australia might be surprised if they turn out to be tougher opposition than they expect too.

pwd

already had 50 euro on australia to win the tournament at 2.16 odds.
put 20 on sri lanka at 3.3 now.
So I can lose 4 euro or win 38.

DMC

Rain delay, 3:15pm start.

Australia won the toss and will bat first.

Fact corner: In 8 previous CWC finals, the side batting 1st has won 7 times, the only time the team batting 2nd won.... was Sri Lanka in 1996, against Australia.

DMC

Raining again...

DMC

Hmmm. One of those days... covers go off, rains again, covers go on again...

Definately looks like the match will be played with reduced overs, so it can go down to a minimum of 20 overs a side today. If they can't complete that, or if rains again, there will be play tomorrow.

DMC

5:15pm start, weather permitting. 38 overs a side.

DMC

Australia 2/0 after 1 over (38 max)

KevIRL

well at least we have play.

Here's hoping its a great game

DMC

3rd over...

Gilchrist hits Vaas for 4, then 6.

16/0 after 3 overs (38 max)

Mothman

4th Over is a maiden

pwd

what is the maximum number of overs for each bowler now?

Marshy

pwd wrote:

what is the maximum number of overs for each bowler now?

3 bowlers can bowl 8, while 2 bowl 7. Think thats how it works.

Aus 35-0, 8 gone

pwd

thanks

DMC

Australia 62/0 after 11 overs (38 max)

16 from the Fernando over...

And there is the full ten over powerplay, but only one 5 over optional powerplay.

Muralitharan turns his arm for the first time....

KevIRL

3 off Murali's first over

65-0 (12ovs)

DMC

Gilchrist gets his 3rd 50 in World Cup Finals. wow.

KevIRL

Nice 50 from Gilchrist off 43 balls.

Aus now 71-0 (13.2ovs)

Marshy

For feck sake, off to a flyer here the aussies. Run rate up near 6, If these two keep going they'll take the game away from SL. I reckon anything around 230/240 will be a tough target to chase. Pitch does look good tho.

KevIRL

Amazing batting here from Hayden and Gilchrist in particular.

pwd

135/0 (19)
best opening batsmen in wc final ever

KevIRL

Brillaint hundred from Gilchrist!
148-0

DMC

Gilchrist 100* off 72 balls.

148/0 in the 21st over (38 Max)

Marshy

Pretty much game over after just 20 ovs. 300 well within their sights here now I'd say. Whats going on, is it poor bowling, flat pitch or just brilliant batting.

KevIRL

Marshy wrote:

Pretty much game over after just 20 ovs. 300 well within their sights here now I'd say. Whats going on, is it poor bowling, flat pitch or just brilliant batting.

Brilliant brilliant batting. A pleasure to watch

KevIRL

wicket

Hayden gone

172-1

Royale with Cheese

This is depressing.

KevIRL

Aus 176-1 (24ovs)

KevIRL

Royale with Cheese wrote:

This is depressing.

I understand what you are saying, but in fairness it is class stuff from Australia

KevIRL

194-1 (27ovs)

KevIRL

203-1 (28ovs)

ninebeanrows

A true whoooooooping..

Australia are in a league 2 leagues above everyone else...

Barring a Sri Lankian miracle

ninebeanrows

Gilchrist is actually some sort of freak.. he's hitting 6's and 4's galore.. It's immense

KevIRL

Aus 221-1 (3ovs)

KevIRL

Gilchrist gone.

Amazing knock

149


Aus 224-2

ninebeanrows

Respectable run-rate Australia RR 7.39

Gilchrist 2 off 150

EDIT

Gilchrist OUT for 149!!!

KevIRL

Weathercheck wrote:

Respectable run-rate Australia RR 7.39

Gilchrist 2 off 150

EDIT

Gilchrist OUT for 149!!!

Respectable???

Fantastic R/R more like

KevIRL

231-2 (32ovs)

Royale with Cheese

As well as the Ozzies have played here, practically everything has gone there way. Even the shorter game favours them more than Sri Lanka.

KevIRL

243-2 (34ovs)

DMC

Royale with Cheese wrote:

As well as the Ozzies have played here, practically everything has gone there way. Even the shorter game favours them more than Sri Lanka.

I think the Aussies have seen more rain on the telly today than they have back home in a couple of years...

KevIRL

Ponting brings up the 250 with Australia's 10th 6 of the day.

256-2(34.5ovs)

KevIRL

Ponting run out

261-3 in the 36th

KevIRL

Watson gone for 3

266-4 (36.2ovs)

KevIRL

272-4 (37ovs)

one over left

DMC

Australia 281/4 from 38 overs (38 over innings)

Sri Lanka require 282 from 38 overs to win at a rate of 7.42 runs per over.