When Aravinda caned Australia

Having helped Sri Lanka restrict Australians to 241 with three crucial blows with his part-time off-spin, the right-hander dashed the Aussie hopes of a second Cup triumph in the sub-continent with a century to round off a perfect day.

Australia were going great guns at 137 for one after losing opener Mark Waugh when De Silva broke the 101-run second-wicket partnership, dismissing skipper Mark Taylor. Soon he accounted for Ricky Ponting, after which the Lankan spinners maintained a tight leash on Australian batsmen.

Like in the semifinal, Lankan openers Sanath Jayasuriya and Romesh Kaluwitharana were gone in a flash and once again it was left to De Silva to marshall the innings. The veteran found an able ally in Asanka Gurusinha (65) who helped his more illustrious partner add 125 runs for the third wicket. De Silva then forged an unbeaten 97-run association for the third wicket with skipper Arjuna Ranatunga as Lanka became the third sub-continent team to lift the coveted trophy, and De Silva (107, 124b, 13x4) only the the third player to score a hundred in a World Cup final after Clive Lloyd and Viv Richards.