Few Pakistan fans got into the game

On the other, Steve Waugh's steely, determined gold and greens, who had clawed their way through to the final with the most dramatic victory ever witnessed in a one-day game.

Their Herculean clashes with South Africa, the pre-tournament favourites, only served to heighten expectations.

On a damp Saturday the streets around Lord's were throbbing with gleeful Pakistan supporters building up a frenzied atmosphere.

One group of Pakistan fans were so desperate to see the game they locked themselves in a toilet inside the ground the night before. They were discovered on the morning of the match and ejected to join the throng outside.

But once inside the atmosphere changed.

Ticket allocation for the final had long since been decided and the crowd was made up largely of neutrals.

They waited to be entertained and excited. And waited.

The game began 30 minutes late, but was still over by mid-afternoon 60 overs later.

Mark Waugh catches Wasti

Saeed Anwar cracked a couple of early boundaries but then Mark Waugh flung himself to hold an edge off Wajahatullah Wasti and Pakistan's batsmen never again appeared at ease.

Australia were outstanding in the field, brilliant catching backing up an in-form attack.

None was better than Ricky Ponting's full-length dive and one-handed gather at slip to end the innings.

But the highlight of the innings, and indeed the game, was Shane Warne's 'Son of Gatting' delivery to dismiss Ijaz Ahmed. It pitched outside leg stump and clipped off.

Warne dazzled at his very best as Pakistan were bowled out for 132.

No-one managed more than Ijaz's 22, while all five bowlers Waugh turned to were successful.

Glenn McGrath was as mean as ever. His nine overs cost only 13 runs. At the other end Warne did the damage with four for 33 to earn the man-of-the-match award.

Pakistan's faint hopes of doing likewise to Australia soon disappeared in a flurry of boundaries.

Gilchrist clubs another boundary

Shoaib tore in from the Pavilion End, but the quicker he bowled the quicker Adam Gilchrist smacked him to the fence.

A chastened Shoaib took his cap after four overs had cost 37.

Gilchrist hurried on to a 33 ball half-century and although he fell to Saqlain Mushtaq for 54, Mark Waugh's unbeaten 37 took Australia to victory by eight wickets with one ball less than 30 overs to spare.

Such had been Australia's dominance from the start that even the inevitable pitch invasion by Pakistan supporters was half-hearted.