Over 38: Symonds takes a single down the ground, then Steve Bucknor very harshly calls a wide for a Fernando bumper that whistles past Clarke's nose. Clarke pushes a single out to deep cover, then they scamper a single from a no-ball. Fernando then misses a golden run out chance as the batsmen look for a quick single, missing the stumps from no more than three yards. Symonds misses out on a pull and just gets a single, as does Clarke from the next ball. The last ball is a cracking yorker that Symonds digs out and they take a single. Decent last over from Fernando.
Australia 281/4 (RR: 7.39): Symonds 23* (21), Clarke 8* (6)

Fernando is back into the attack.

Over 37: Clarke takes a single first up....or at least he thinks so, as Aleem Dar calls a dead ball after Clarke runs down the middle of the pitch. Very bizarre, given that he only took a few strides down the 'danger zone'. He does get off the mark next ball, but probably would've taken two if he hadn't taken two steps to his left to avoid running down the pitch. Symonds gets a single, then Clarke gets for with a clips off his padsthat goes underneath Jayasuriya at short fine-leg.
Australia 272/4 (RR: 7.35): Symonds 19* (17), Clarke 5* (3)

Michael Clarke is the new batsman.

WICKET!
S Watson b Malinga 3 (3)
Malinga fires in a yorker that Watson digs out, and some brilliant running brings them two. Watson then tries a hugely ambitious paddle sweep from a full Malinga delivery, but is a little early on it and his middle stump is knocked back

Over 36: Watson gets off the mark with a single down to long-off, then Symonds gets a couple with a paddle sweep that Malinga misfields at short fine-leg.
Australia 264/3 (RR: 7.33): Symonds 18* (16), Watson 1* (1)

Shane Watson is the new batsman.

WICKET!
R Ponting run out (Jayawardene) 37 (42)
Symonds digs out a single, then Ponting carves another down to third man for a couple. Ponting takes a quick single, then Jayawardene brilliantly runs out Ponting running to the striker's end as they look for a quick single into the covers.

Vaas is back into the attack.

Over 35: Ponting smacks down to long-on for just the single, then Symonds backs away and gets a massive edge on a big smear that flies over where slip would've been, and down to the ropes for four. Symonds tucks a single to mid-wicket, then Ponting hits a truely breathtaking shot from a full ball, way over long-on and for six. He tries a repeat next up, but gets an inside edge and they just take a single. Symonds wristily flicks to short fine leg and they scamper one more from the last ball of the over.
Australia 258/2 (RR: 7.34): Ponting 34* (40), Symonds 15* (13)

Malinga is back into the attack.

The ball is changed, somewhat pointlessly, four overs from the end.

Over 34: Symonds clubs one back towards Jayasuriya, who nearly takes a sharp return catch. Ponting pushes down the ground for one, then Symonds skips down the track and smacks a four over the bowler's head. Jayasuriya then does well to keep Symonds quiet for the rest of the over, including a reverse sweep that he makes a total mess of and is lucky not to loop a leading edge into the air.
Australia 243/2 (RR: 7.15): Ponting 26* (37), Symonds 9* (10)

Over 33: Symonds backs away and goes for a big hit over the covers, but gets an inside edge just past the stumps and gets a single. Ponting also misses with a big shot and they take two leg-byes, but then Fernando slides down the leg side and a wide is called. Ponting pushes a single down the ground, a shot repeated by Symonds next ball.
Australia 237/2 (RR: 7.18): Ponting 25* (36), Symonds 4* (5)

Over 32: Ponting takes a quick single, allowing Symonds to get off the mark with a push off the back foot into the covers. Jayasuriya goes up for a lbw shout, but it was going well down leg and they take a leg-bye. Just one more is taken from the over, with Symonds pushing down the ground for a single.
Australia 231/2 (RR: 7.22): Ponting 24* (33), Symonds 2* (2)

Jayasuriya is back into the attack.

Over 31: Ponting gets a couple with a nice clip down to a wide long-on, then picks up a single with a glance off his legs to deep mid-wicket.
Australia 227/2 (RR: 7.32): Ponting 23* (29), Symonds 0* (0)

Andrew Symonds is the new batsman.

WICKET!
A Gilchrist c Silva b Fernando 149 (104)
Gilchrist plays down to long-off for a single, before Jayasuriya very nearly runs Gilchrist out with a throw from short fine-leg. Gilchrist then finally goes by getting a big top-edge on a pull stroke, and Silva takes a good catch running round from mid-wicket. A magnificent innings comes to an end, and Gilchrist has surely put Australia into anunbeatable position.

Fernando is back into the attack.

Over 30: Ponting sweeps for a single, then Gilchrist clips one off his pads for a single down to fine leg. Some good running brings them two from a quick push into mid-wicket, followed by a simple single to the covers. Gilchrist misses with a big slog-sweep, but makes contact with the next, only getting a single to deep mid-wicket.
Australia 222/1 (RR: 7.40): Gilchrist 148* (102), Ponting 19* (25)

Over 29: Ponting skips down the track but mis-times a big smear aiming for the mid-wicket fence, and only gets a single. Gilchrist clips one more off his pads, before Ponting misses a sweep and they take one leg-bye. Jayasuriya bowls a poor full toss that Gilchrist takes from off his knees and effortlessly smacks over deep mid-wciket for six. He then helps another leg side ball down to the fence for another four.
Australia 216/1 (RR: 7.45): Gilchrist 146* (99), Ponting 15* (22)

Over 28: Ponting sweeps past the despairing dive of Malinga at fine leg for a single, then pushes one more to square leg. Gilchrist then gets a big top-edge on a slog sweep that lands inbetween two fielders and he picks up two runs. Next ball is a more controlled sweep to deep mid-wicket for a single, then Ponting ends the over with another single down to fine leg.
Australia 203/1 (RR: 7.25): Gilchrist 135* (96), Ponting 14* (19)

Over 27: Gilchrist latches on to a length ball from Jayasuriya quickly an sweeps a huge six over mid-wicket. He takes a single next ball, but Jayasuriya then keeps Ponting quiet until he tucks a single off his hips from the last ball.
Australia 194/1 (RR: 7.19): Gilchrist 132* (94), Ponting 8* (15)

Over 26: Ponting pushes a single down the ground, then Gilchrist picks up one more with a sweep out to deep square-leg. Murali almost tucks Ponting up with a decent delivery arrowing in to his pads, before he guides a single to third man. Both batsmen then edge balls just short of slip, and they pick up a single and two from after it eludes the fielder.
Australia 186/1 (RR: 7.15): Gilchrist 125* (92), Ponting 7* (11)

Murali is back into the attack.

Over 25: Both batsmen get singles down to long-off first up, before Jayasuriya keeps things tight with some good yorker length balls. Gilchrist sweeps a single out to deep square-leg, and Ponting completes another relatively modest over with a single down to long-on.
Australia 180/1 (RR: 7.20): Gilchrist 122* (90), Ponting 3* (7)

Sanath Jayasuriya is into the attack.

Over 24: Gilchrist pushes a quick single to a slightly deep mid-off, allowing Ponting to get off the mark with a tuck off his hips. Vaas very nearly gets Gilchrist with a cracking yorker, but he digs it out and takes a single. Vaas manages what he thought was a rare dot ball, only for umpire Steve Bucknor to signal a no-ball. He manages the feat from the last two balls, and that a decent over for Sri Lanka among this almost irresistible torrent of runs.
Australia 176/1 (RR: 7.33): Gilchrist 121* (86), Ponting 1* (5)

Over 23: Malinga almost gets through Ponting's defences first up with a good yorker, but the Australian captain survives.
Australia 172/1 (RR: 7.48): Gilchrist 119* (83), Ponting 0* (1)

Ricky Ponting is the new batsman.

WICKET!
M Hayden c Jayawardene b Malinga 38 (55)
Gilchrist yet again gets a boundary straight down the ground with a shot that came from nowhere near the middle of his bat. Same story with the next ball, this time going to the fence at wide mid-wicket. Ironically he does get more on thefollowing delivery, but only gets a single to deep mid-wicket. Sri Lanka then finally pick up the first wicket as Hayden mis-times a drive to Jayawardene at cover, but it may already be too late.

Over 22: Vaas drops short to Gilchrist who duly smears a pull for four in front of square, then Vaas concedes another two fours - firstly with a wide, then with one that Gilchrist helps round the corner for four of his own. Gilchrist gets a single by digging out a decent Vaas yorker, then Hayden does the unthinkable by leaving one outside off, then defending the next ball.
Australia 163/0 (RR: 7.41): Gilchrist 110* (79), Hayden 38* (54)

Gilchrist 100: 72 balls, 8x4, 6x6.

Over 21: Hayden nothing like a clean hit on one outside off, but the strength of the man means that it sails over the ropes for six at long-off. He pushes a quick single down the ground, allowing Gilchrist to chalk up his hundred with a lofted four down the ground. Gilchrist very nearly goes next ball, edging through to Sangakkara who very nearly takes a fantastic catch diving away to his left, but he just lost the ball as he hit the ground. He gets one more from a big leading edge down to third man that fell just short of the fielder.
Australia 149/0 (RR: 7.10): Gilchrist 101* (75), Hayden 38* (52)

Lasith Malinga is back into the attack.

Over 20: Gilchrist only manages a single from the first three balls of the over, then Hayden very, very nearly edges onto his stumps, but is called through for a single while he's trying to work out where the ball is. Gilchrist then almost chips one straight to mid-wicket, but it drops just short and he survives. Good comeback over from Vaas, just two from it.
Australia 137/0 (RR: 6.85): Gilchrist 96* (71), Hayden 31* (50)

Vaas is back into the attack, and Sri Lanka take the second and final powerplay.

Drinks are taken, allowing everyone to take a breath and for the Sri Lankans to recover from something akin to shell-shock.

Over 19: Hayden gets four with a genuine edge that would've gone down second slip's thoat, had there been anyone there. He repeats the shot next ball, but it goes wider and third man keeps them to one. Unbelievably Gilchrist then gets an even finer edge just past the diving wicketkeeper for another four. He pushes a single into the off side, Fernando bowls a very wide wide outside off, then Hayden dabs a single delicately down to third man. Gilchrist flashes at one outside off, but manages just a single down to third man to end yet another great over for the Australians.
Australia 135/0 (RR: 7.11): Gilchrist 95* (66), Hayden 30* (49)

Over 18: Gilchrist gets a single with a miss-hit sweep to deep square-leg, then Hayden takes one more with a slightly better struck sweep. Gilchrist then really connects with a slog-sweep that flies high, high over straight mid-wicket for six. He closes the over with a push down to deep mid-wicket that brings him two more.
Australia 122/0 (RR: 6.78): Gilchrist 89* (63), Hayden 24* (46)

Over 17: Gilchrist is totally flummoxed by a slower ball, but then returns to form by launching a six that just dropped over Murali's head at long-off. He then gets four with nothing more than a toe-end from an attempted yorker that races down to the straight fence. Fernando comes around the wicket, but starts that experiment with a wide down leg, then Gilchrist clips another stab at a yorker to deep mid-wicket for one. Hayden pushes a single down to long-off, as does Gilchrist from the last ball of the over.
Australia 112/0 (RR: 6.59): Gilchrist 80* (58), Hayden 23* (45)

Fernando isback into the attack.

Over 16: Hayden clips a single off his pads, then Gilchrist helps a ball that was going a long way down leg away for one more. Hayden is then beaten through the gate by a Murali doosra, before he spoils things rather by bowling a leg side wide. The first few chinks are shown in the Australian armour.
Australia 98/0 (RR: 6.13): Gilchrist 68* (53), Hayden 22* (44)

Over 15: Gilchrist launches the first ball of the over for a massive six straight over the bowler's head, and this is looking ominous for Sri Lanka. The next couple are defended, before Gilchrist pushes a single down to long-on. Dilshan then slides down the leg side that also eludes Sangakkara, and runs down to the boundary for four additional runs. Hayden plays down to long-on for a single, allowing Gilchrist to neatly bookend the over with another massive straight six.
Australia 95/0 (RR: 6.33): Gilchrist 67* (51), Hayden 21* (40)

Over 14: Gilchrist brings up his half-century with a push to mid-off that was in the air briefly, but lands safe. Hayden sweeps for a single, before Gilchrist prods behind point for another. Hayden pushes another quick run into the covers. Gilchrist mis-times a big slog-sweep, but a fumble in the field lets them come through for a couple. A single is pushed down the ground to end another profitably over for Australia.
Australia 76/0 (RR: 5.43): Gilchrist 54* (46), Hayden 20* (39)

Over 13: The batsmen take two singles apiece from the first four balls of the over, before Hayden prods surprisingly uncertainly at the remaining two balls.
Australia 69/0 (RR: 5.31): Gilchrist 49* (42), Hayden 18* (37)

Tillakaratne Dilshan is into the attack.

Over 12: Inevitably some terribly clever 'No-ball' shouts come from the Australians in the crowd as Murali bowls. He very nearly bowls Gilchrist around his legs, but it misses the stumps by a whisker and is very harshly deemed to be a wide. Both batsmen push singles off their pads from consecutive balls, and Murali closes the over with the most hopeful lbw shout you'll ever see, pitching around a foot outside leg.
Australia 65/0 (RR: 5.42): Gilchrist 47* (40), Hayden 16* (33)

Muttiah Muralitharan is into the attack.

Over 11: Hayden takes a single down to long-off, then Fernando puts down a very tricky caught and bowled chance that was arrowing towards his ankles. He follows it with a leg stump full toss that Gilchrist swings away to the square leg fence, past the despairing dive of Chamara Silva. Next up he lashes another four straight down the ground with a a rbute of a shot that nearly cleared out Hayden and the umpire. Gilchrist then heaves an enormous six over wide mid-on, before taking a single out to the cover fence sweeper.
Australia 62/0 (RR: 5.64): Gilchrist 46* (36), Hayden 15* (32)

Mahela Jayawardene has chosen not to take the second (and final in this reduced game) powerplay.

Over 10: Hayden treats Vaas with a little more respect this time, pushing his first three balls back down the pitch. Next he goes for a big shot, but gets a leading edge that drops just over the covers, and they take two. Hayden chips down to long-on for a single, and Gilchrist defends the last ball.
Australia 46/0 (RR: 4.60): Gilchrist 31* (30), Hayden 14* (31)

Over 9: Hayden treats Vaas with a little more respect this time, pushing his first three balls back down the pitch. Next he goes for a big shot, but gets a leading edge that drops just over the covers, and they take two. Hayden chips down to long-on for a single, and Gilchrist defends the last ball.
Australia 46/0 (RR: 4.60): Gilchrist 31* (30), Hayden 14* (31)

Vaas is back into the attack, replacing Malinga.

Over 9: Gilchrist slightly mis-times a shot aiming through wide mid-on, but gets a single nonetheless. Hayden does the same next ball, but his run comes from an inside edge through square leg. Gilchrist then doesn't get hold of a pull in front of square, but it drops safely just inside the boundary and some tidy fielding from Sanath Jayasuriya keeps them to two. Gilchrist then well and truely connects with a drive over mid-off, and gets another four. A streaky but profitable over for Australia.
Australia 43/0 (RR: 4.78): Gilchrist 31* (29), Hayden 11* (26)

Over 8: Gilchrist picks up a couple with a nicely timed push through mid-wicket, but misses out on a widish half-volley - a rare loose ball from Malinga. Gilchrist clips a single down to deep square leg, before Hayden again plays Malinga with great caution.
Australia 35/0 (RR: 4.38): Gilchrist 24* (24), Hayden 10* (25)

Over 7: The crowd go up for a catch at point, but quickly calm down when they realise it was a bump ball. Gilchrist mis-times a big pull in front of square, but mid-on nonetheless has to make a diving save to restrict them to just one. Hayden misses with a monster swing at one just outside off, but connects with a similar effort from the last ball of the over, and gets four over wide mid-on.
Australia 32/0 (RR: 4.57): Gilchrist 21* (19), Hayden 10* (24)

After his first three overs disappeared for 24, Vaas is taken out of the attack, replaced by Dilhara Fernando.

Over 6: Gilchrist whips a ball from Malinga off his hips for a single down to deep backward square. Hayden again plays the remainder of Malinga's over very carefully indeed, and no more runs come from it. Just three runs from Malinga's three overs thus far.
Australia 27/0 (RR: 4.50): Gilchrist 20* (16), Hayden 6* (21)

Over 5: Vaas continues, but slides on to Gilchrist's pads first up, and he swings it fine round the corner for another boundary. Gilchrist drops a rapid single just short of mid-on, and Vaas spoils a couple of decent line and length balls by overstepping. Vaas then gives Hayden a hint of width, and the opener latches on to it to crash a drive on the up over cover point for four.
Australia 26/0 (RR: 5.20): Gilchrist 19* (14), Hayden 6* (17)

Over 4: Malinga is keeping things very tight to Hayden, but he has started knocks cautiously in this tournament before. No runs are taken from the over, and that's another cracker from Malinga.
Australia 16/0 (RR: 4.00): Gilchrist 14* (11), Hayden 2* (13)

Over 3: Gilchrist plays the first big shot of the day, flicking a length ball from Vaas off his pads for a one-bounce four to the deep-square leg fence. He follows it up with a big hoik over mid-on that goes all the way for six. Sangakkara comes up to the stumps rather earlier than he might've liked, but it does the trick as Gilchrist plays the next couple of balls very carefully. He gets a thick edge to the final ball of the over, and some rapid running gets them a couple down to third man.
Australia 16/0 (RR: 5.33): Gilchrist 14* (11), Hayden 2* (7)

Over 2: Rather worryingly for Sri Lanka there seems to be very little swing from either Malinga or Vaas early on. Hayden tucks a single to mid-wicket, then Gilchrist is awarded a single even though the ball appeared to simply run off his thigh pad down to fine leg. Another good over from Sri Lanka, with the Australians treatingMalinga with a certain degree of caution.
Australia 4/0 (RR: 2.00): Gilchrist 2* (5), Hayden 2* (7)

Lasith Malinga will share the new ball for Sri Lanka.

Over 1: Gilchrist gets Australia going with a tucked single off his pads from the second ball from Vaas. Hayden clips his third ball down to fine leg for another single, but that's a good start from Vaas.
Australia 2/0 (RR: 2.00): Gilchrist 1* (3), Hayden 1* (3)

Chaminda Vaas will open the bowling for Sri Lanka.

Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden make their way out to the middle, and finally it looks like the 2007 World Cup Final is about to get underway.

The umpires are on their way out on to the field, as are the Sri Lankan fielders.

1705 BST: To recap, it will be 38 overs per side, with three bowlers able to bowl eight overs each, and the third powerplay has been done away with.

1700 BST: The weather is still clear, and the 1715 start is still on. Fingers crossed.

1650 BST: This looks better - the covers are completely off now, and word comes through that play is scheduled to start at 1715, with 38 overs per side. It could well all go badly wrong though.

1640 BST: The rain continues to fall, and the crowd look rather glum. However, the groundstaff appear to be fiddling around with the covers, which could be promising, but could mean very little. There have been false dawns aplenty so far this afternoon.

1620 BST: No change in Barbados. The rain still falls, the covers are still on. We'll be lucky if we get a 30 overs a side match here.

1605 BST: Told you not to get too excited. The rain has started again, and the big cover is back on. How frustrating.

1600 BST: Slightly more encouraging news. The larger 'top' cover is being removed, leaving just the groundsheet on the square. However, we've been here before more than once, so don't get too excited just yet.

1545 BST: The rain is heavier now in Barbados. When the game does eventually get underway we'll be in for a reduced overs affair. Surely the very worst way for this World Cup to end would be in a Twenty20 slogfest, but the way the weather is going that might be exactly what does happen.

1535 BST: The rain continues to fall. Given that there hasn't been a drop of the stuff since the early stages of the Super Eights, this is massively annoying. Somebody clearly wants this World Cup to last even longer.

1515 BST: The 1515 start time has been and gone, with the covers still on the square. Hugely frustrating.

1505 BST: Bad news. Having had the toss with the sun shining, the drizzle has started again and the covers are back on. No official word as yet, but it looks like the 1515 BST start time will have to be revised.

Teams:

Sri Lanka: Tharanga, Jayasuriya, Sangakkara (wkt), Jayawardene (capt), Silva, Dilshan, Arnold, Vaas, Fernando, Malinga, Muralitharan.

Australia: Hayden, Gilchrist (wkt), Ponting (capt), Clarke, Hussey, Symonds, Watson, Hogg, Bracken, Tait, McGrath.

1500 BST: Both captains confirm that they have named unchanged sides from their semi-final wins, meaning Dilhara Fernando keeps his place despite suggestions to the contrary in the week.

1455 BST: The captains are on their way out to the middle for the toss. The coin goes up, Ricky Ponting calls heads.....and it is heads. Australia will bat first.

1445 BST: Slight change of plan. No toss yet, and play is now scheduled to start at 1515 BST.

1430 BST: The toss is scheduled to take place at 1440 BST, with play starting at 1510 BST. Lunch will be half an hour, withno over deductions as yet.

1425 BST: Although the covers are still on, word from Barbados is that play will start in around half an hour.

1415 BST: Good news from Barbados - it seems to have stopped raining and the groundstaff are on the move. However, it has been stopping and starting for a good half hour now so don't hold your breath.

1400 BST: Afternoon, and welcome to our coverage of the World Cup Final in Barbados. Remarkably, it started raining at about 1330 BST at the Kensington Oval, so in all likelihood we're in for a delayed start. Keep checking back for updates.