Thousands of Australian and Sri Lankan fans were present at the Kensington Oval long before Ponting and Jayawardene walked out for the toss on a rain-hit day.
BARBADOS: It was virtually a home away from home for Ricky Ponting's Australians and Mahela Jayawardene's Sri Lankans when they clashed in the World Cup final here on Saturday.
Thousands of Australian and Sri Lankan fans were present at the Kensington Oval long before Ponting and Jayawardene walked out for the toss on a rain-hit day. The weather failed to dim the enthusiasm of the fans.
Music and dancing went on in one of the stands although fans had to wait for the action to begin as rain delayed the start of the match for the best part of three hours.
They cheered when the Sri Lanka team and Australian openers Matthew Hayden and Adam Gilchrist finally took the field and hoped the rain would play no further part in the match, already reduced to 38-overs-a-side.
President Mahinda Rajapakse said Saturday Sri Lanka's team is confident of beating Australia to secure the cricket World Cup.
Rajapakse, in Barbados to cheer his national team, said Sri Lanka had a "well balanced team," and were confident of a comfortable victory.
"Our team has a strong belief that they will win," Rajapakse said in a live interview with Sri Lanka's Rupavahini national broadcaster.
"The fans I met in England and Barbados all want Sri Lanka to win."
"I think we are going to win and why not? We were expecting our team to be in the final," said Charitha Nanayakkara, a 25-year-old student from Manchester in England.
"It'll be bigger than the 1996 World Cup final victory because I can say 'I was there'. I watched that final on TV and I remember all the fireworks going on."
Sri Lanka beat Australia in the 1996 final when they posted a seven-wicket victory at Lahore in Pakistan under Arjuna Ranatunga's captaincy.
Sri Lankan fan Kupek Muruges said each player needed to contribute against Australia if Jayawardene's team hoped to repeat that success.
"I think Sanath Jayasuriya, Muttiah Muralitharan and Lasith Malinga will play big roles. I also think Jayasuriya will make a hundred today," said Muruges, also from Manchester.
"But we'll still be enjoying it even if we lose. We are in the final of a big tournament and we'll still be the second best team in the world."
Sri Lanka were assured of support from other quarters also.
"From the day we arrived in the Caribbean, the public has been brilliant for us. Maybe the primary reason is the brand of cricket we play," said Sri Lankan captain Jayawardene.
"We love the whole atmosphere in the Caribbean because it's much similar to what we get back home .. the music, the cheering. We have thoroughly enjoyed it and they have been very supportive.
"In the course of the tournament, we have created more fans here than any other team and hopefully they'll support us in the final."
The Australian fans, dressed in yellow and green, have been following their team for most of the seven-week tournament.
"We expect Australia to win. They have been training very hard and are very professional," said Steve Corradi, a 39-year-old from Cairns.
"But it's the final and anything can happen. I'm a bit nervous also. I hope we win the toss and bat first and then finish it off with our bowling. I'd also like to see Adam Gilchrist do well."
David Dilley, a 47-year-old from Sydney, said he believed that Ponting and left-arm fast bowler Nathan Bracken would play big roles.
"Ponting with the bat, and Bracken with the ball," said Dilley, who has watched most of Australia's Cup matches.
"I am expecting a tight game, with Australia to win. But I won't be shocked if Sri Lanka win."
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