5 instances when out-of-form players turned the tides in a final

#2 Adam Gilchrist, 149 vs Sri Lanka, ICC World Cup 2007 Final

Adam Gilchrist made the highest score in a World Cup Final

This was the first World Cup final to be repeated, with both sides having clashed in the 1996 edition. Australia was two times defending champions and were in sight of a hat-trick of World Cups.

The team was at their ferocious best, and absolutely ruthless in their approach. The golden generation of players rampaged every team which came in their way.

One player who had failed to fire in the tournament was Adam Gilchrist. Though he started the tournament well, he seemed to have lost touch in the Super 8 stage.

After 140 runs in the group stage, Gilly managed just 159 runs in the next seven games, with an average of 22.71. These figures were extremely shy of his ability as an aggressive stroke player.

A rain-curtailed match reduced the quota to 38 overs per match. Gilchrist came out all guns blazing as he smashed the Sri Lankan bowlers to all the parts of the ground.

A bad run in the tournament seemed to be a thing of the past. Gilchrist was back at his own-self, as he hit 13 fours and eight sixes, scoring a century with boundaries.

He brought up an opening partnership of 172 runs with Matthew Hayden, scoring 105 of them. Gilly was the next batsman to be dismissed, after playing an inspired knock of 149.

Though he missed his 150 by a run, Gilchrist made the record for the highest World Cup Final score. In the second innings, a disciplined effort by the bowlers enabled Australia to clinch their third successive World Cup title.

The knock was later marred by controversies of Gilchrist playing with a squash ball in his glove, and the incident was even criticized by the Sri Lankan team as an act against sportsman spirit. Nonetheless, it would remain one of the finest knocks ever in crunch situations.

Gilchrist was awarded the Man of the Match for his swashbuckling innings.