VB Series, 2005-06

At Brisbane, February 14, 2006 (day/night). Australia won by nine wickets. Toss: Sri Lanka.

Another authoritative partnership, this time a 196-run opening stand by Gilchrist and Katich, delivered the trophy to Australia for the fourth season in succession. Spectators knew for sure the game was on less than 48 hours beforehand, but there was a healthy crowd to see some superb Australian fielding: Symonds plucked a one-hander at cover to account for Atapattu, and Ponting defied gravity with his backwards take of Arnold, who struck the swiftest of Sri Lanka's three half-centuries. The Sri Lankans were restricted to a par total on a pristine pitch although Lee, the leading wicket-taker in the preliminaries, again failed to add to his total. Knowing the target was within range, Gilchrist wasted no time: his 67-ball century beat his own record as Australia's fastest. Katich, though, built his innings with purpose, fighting exhaustion to reach his first hundred in his 33rd one-day international. Some interpreted his aggressive celebration as a rebuke of those who championed Phil Jaques as opener. Muralitharan eventually broke the stand with a doosra on what was perhaps (to his relief ) his last outing in Australia, but the result had long since become clear.

Man of the Match: A. C. Gilchrist.

Attendance: 26,139.

Man of the Series: A. Symonds.