Australia vice-captain Adam Gilchrist recaptured his old swashbuckling form on Saturday to smash a record 149 in the World Cup final against Sri Lanka and lift his team to 281 for four from their 38 overs in the rain-reduced match.

His 104-ball innings, containing 13 fours and eight sixes, was the highest individual score in a final, bettering his captain Ricky Ponting's 140 not out against India four years ago.

Australia won the World Cup for a record third consecutive time, beating Sri Lanka by 53 runs in a rain-shortened final that ended in a farce.

Photographs: Getty Images

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