A final that received guarded but respectable hype
inadvertantly and then problematically provivided a full day's cricket that
answered any remaining queries about the current Autralian dynasty.
Being there, I can say that
spirits remained high for both sides for most of the day with the Oz supporters
unleashing an unending string of unique chants and costumes while consuming the
nation's supply of Banks beer. A chain of empited cups put together by
some yobs ultimately ran virtually the length of the southern end of the
ground!
While the neutrals opted to help out the Lankans, it was
hard to get anything going after Hurricane Gilchrist came through - the early
inclement weather perhaps providing an ominous sign of all to come.
The better team won in an actual final (no one else pushed
the Aussies as hard for the entire month) and I should fess up that the
reason I declined to put Australia in my pre-tourney fave list
was that I knew that the talent and adaptablitiy gap was quite wide. That
they won surprises no one. That they have virtually lapped the field still
boggles the mind.
Some may nit pick at Fernando's off day and a few
'coulda been' plays but when you consider Sri Lanka finished their innings
at over 6 per over and still lost speaks volumes of Australia's early
reading of the conditions and of their own limited bowling
resources.
Good one on ya mate. We'll get you next
time.