After a lengthy rain delay, play at the Kensington Oval finally begins at 1715 BST but there will be only 38 overs per side

Australia captain Ricky Ponting wins the toss, opts to bat and sees opener Adam Gilchrist get off to a strong start

Despite this, Lasith Malinga enjoys an impressive opening spell that sees him concede just six runs off his first four overs

The other bowlers do not fare as well, allowing Matthew Hayden and Gilchrist to complete their 50 partnership

With the score starting to accelerate, captain Mahela Jayawardene (l) discusses how best to make a breakthrough

The signs look ominous for the Asian side when Gilchirst completes his half century off only 43 balls in the 14th over

Hayden enjoys a more subdued innings but ably supports as the opening pair take their tally past 100 three overs later

Dilhara Fernando is literally brought to his knees by Australia's performance - they are 137-0 after 20 overs

The misery continues in the next over when Gilchrist's 72-ball century becomes the fastest ever hit in a World Cup final

Sri Lanka finally get the chance to celebrate when Malinga unseats Hayden for 38 in the 23rd over, making it 172-1

Ponting joins the action and puts on 50 with Gilchrist as Australia reach 222-1 at the end of the 30th over

Three balls later Gilchrist finds himself on the way to the dressing room after falling to Fernando for a superb 149

Two more wickets fall before Andrew Symonds scores a single off the final ball to help Australia to a total of 281-4

Sri Lanka's reply receives an early dent when Upal Tharanga falls to Nathan Bracken after facing only eight balls

Kumar Sangakkara is next in and forms a valuable partnership with Sanath Jayasuriya that passes 50 in the 11th over

The pair go on to score 116 before Sangakkara falls to the spin of Brad Hogg in the 20th over, leaving his side on 123-2

As rain clouds start to gather again, Jayasuriya gets bowled by Michael Clarke for 63 to leave Sri Lanka with an uphill task

Bad weather sees Sri Lanka's target revised to 269 off 36 overs, a feat made harder by the dismissal of Jayawardene

The batsmen go off for bad light in the 33rd over causing Australia to celebrate but the umpires insist it is not over

The players are forced to complete the final three overs in near darkness but Australia still prevail, winning by 53 runs