BRIEFLY.

Byline: Staff and Wire Services

Australia captures third straight World Cup cricket title

Adam Gilchrist hit form at the World Cup at just the right time.

The 35-year-old wicketkeeper was having a solid tournament behind the stumps, but had failed to live up to his standards with the bat.

That changed Saturday, when he smashed the fastest and biggest century in a World Cup final to lead Australia to a 53-run victory over Sri Lanka for an unprecedented third straight cricket title.

The left-hander hit 149 in Australia's 281 for four off 38 overs in a rain-hit match at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados.

HOCKEY: Johan Davidsson had two goals and two assists to help defending champion Sweden beat Italy 7-1 at the World Championships in Moscow.

Jamal Mayers scored the winning goal as Canada beat Germany 3-2 in its first game in Group C in Mytischi, Russia.

TRACK: Allyson Felix (L.A. Baptist of North Hills) ran on the victorious women's 400 and 1,600 relays as Team USA beat the World 5-1 at the Penn Relays in Philadelphia.

SAILING: BMW Oracle Racing defeated Emirates Team New Zealand by 35 seconds to finish atop the Louis Vuitton Cup round-robin standings in Valencia, Spain.

BOXING: Felix Sturm regained his World Boxing Association middleweight title from Javier Castillejo, unanimously outpointing the veteran in Oberhausen, Germany.

World Boxing Association lightweight champ Juan Diaz added the World Boxing Organization belt to his collection when Acelino Freitas' corner stopped their title unification fight at the end of the eighth round in Mashuntuckett, Conn.

TENNIS: Defending champion Rafael Nadal beat fifth-seeded David Ferrer 7-5, 6-1 for his 71st straight win on clay and a spot in the Open Seat Godo final in Barcelona, Spain.