Gilchrist survived a dropped catch on 23 to reach his century

Openers Adam Gilchrist and Simon Katich shared a stand of 196 to set Australia up for a nine-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the deciding VB Series final.

Gilchrist hit 122 from 91 balls, while Katich (107) completed a maiden one-day ton as Australia reached a target of 267 with 27 balls left in Brisbane.

Gilchrist survived a drop on 20 when Sanath Jayasuriya fumbled at long off.

Sri Lanka had stumbled to 28-2 before Mahela Jayawardene (86) joined Kumar Sangakkara (59) in a century stand.

However, the tourists were held to 61 runs for the loss of five wickets in the last 10 overs on a good pitch.

We have copped some criticism but we can't be too sensitive about it and we came through it Adam Gilchrist More reaction

Nathan Bracken added the wicket of Russel Arnold (76) to his early double strike for figures of 3-44.

Man of the series Andrew Symonds took three catches, two days after making 151 in the second final.

And Australia captain Ricky Ponting held an incredible back-pedalling catch at mid-off to dismiss Arnold in the penultimate over.

Sri Lanka did well in this VB series but really lacked another strike bowler From JD Have your say on TMS

Ponting joined Katich to complete the victory after Gilchrist, who smashed four powerful sixes to post the fastest century ever by an Australian, was finally bowled by Muttiah Muralitharan.

It has been 12 years since Australia last came back from losing the first final to win their annual triangular tournament.

Sri Lanka won the toss but Australia made the perfect start when Bracken removed Sanath Jayasuriya and Marvan Atapattu cheaply, both caught by Symonds.

Jayawardene struck eight fours in his knock but also fell to Clark when he flicked a ball round his legs to Katich at backward square leg.

Jayawardene contributed to a century second-wicket stand

Sangakkara, man of the match in Sri Lanka's 22-run win in Adelaide, struck five boundaries in a carefully constructed half century.

He was finally deceived by Clarke and trapped lbw with the total on 128 in the 29th over.

Arnold managed only four boundaries but was still able to score at better than a run per ball through his clever placement before he came unstuck with Ponting's spectacular catch.

Australia began patiently but Gilchrist was soon hitting his straps on his way to a 67-ball ton to take the man of the match award.

Katich survived a close run-out chance on 36 and looked at risk of missing out on three figures as Ponting kept the pace high in his unbeaten 28.

He finally reached his ton, in his 33rd one-day international, from 136 balls, to great acclaim from the Gabba crowd.

Ponting hit the winning runs to keep alive Australia's 13-year record of not having lost their one-day finals.