Cricket: Adam Gilchrist was at his brutal best while Simon Katich was a model of composure as both scored centuries in Australia's nine-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the third and deciding one-day final in Brisbane today.
Gilchrist belted 122 off 91 balls while Katich finished unbeaten on 107 as the pair put on a 196-run opening partnership that propelled the world champions past Sri Lanka's total of 266-9 with four and a half overs to spare at the Gabba.
The opening stand was a new record for Australia against Sri Lanka, just 16 days after the pair had put on 191 in a
round-robin match at Perth.
Dropped when he was on 20, Gilchrist smashed 13 boundaries and four sixes in his innings and raised his century off only 67 deliveries to break his own record for the fastest ODI hundred by an Australian and put the match out of Sri Lanka's reach.
With man of the match Gilchrist in full flow, Katich was content to play the anchor role, chalking up his 50 after his partner was already past 100 and reaching his maiden ODI century off 136 balls.
The Australian captain Ricky Ponting was also content to take a back seat, finishing not out 28 after giving Katich most of the strike and taking a spectacular catch to dismiss Russel Arnold in the penultimate over of Sri Lanka's innings.
All rounder Andrew Symonds also took three catches, two days after making 151 in the second final, and was named player of the series.
The deciding match was necessary after Sri Lanka had stunned the hosts with a 22-run victory in the opening final in Adelaide on Friday before Australia rebounded to score an 167-run win in Sydney on Sunday.