Oram, a tall and powerfully built left-hander smashed an amazing 13 sixes and five fours in registering the only century of the historic three-day event with overall prize money of US$175 000 at the ultra-modern Beausejour Stadium.

Vettori remained unbeaten on 37 as the Black Caps raced to 149 in their allotted 12 overs to win the final by 79 runs after they had restricted the Sri Lankans to 70 in 12 overs.

Six-footer Oram took just 17 balls to reach his 50 and another 23 to post his century off 40 deliveries altogether to pocket the lucrative first prize of US$65 000.

“It’s great prize money and it is always great to win something good and it makes it all worthwhile for us coming all this way,” Vettori said after the final.

Vettori was full of praise for his partner Oram, who was later named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament, collecting the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy.

“It was awesome hitting. I think the crowd just loves it. I think everyone came here to see some big-hitting and that’s what he gave them,” Vettori noted.

Earlier, de Silva struck 11 fours and a six in a knock of 67 but was deducted 20 runs after he was dismissed twice to finish with a score of 47 while Jayawardene made 22.

However, the total was no match for the attacking New Zealand duo of Oram and Vettori, who delighted the crowd of around 5 000 with some massive sixes to all part of the lush-green ground.

Mixing aggression with defence, Oram launched the Black Caps victory charge when he smashed Jayawardene for 28 runs in his first over with a four off the first ball and then four consecutive sixes.

Oram was bowled off the last delivery of the same over but it hardly mattered as he then turned his attention to de Silva, hoisting him for three sixes in another over.

Along the way, Oram was mis-stumped by former Zimbabwe captain and wicketkeeper Andy Flower and dropped by Antiguan Kerry Jeremy, who mis-judged a catch at long on, but he continued to nonchalantly dispatch the slow bowling of de Silva and Jayawardene into the stands.

de Silva conceded 82 runs off his six overs while Jayawardene was flayed for 84 in six overs while claiming two wickets.

The New Zealanders had secured their place in the final by comfortably defeating England by 53 runs with Oram making 52 and Vettori, 36 in a total of 93 runs.

Vettori then captured seven wickets for 59 runs and Oram, two for 70, as England’s duo of Adam Hollioake and Andrew Flintoff were dismissed on nine occasions, which cost them 90 valuable runs.

This meant that their final score was reduced to just 40 runs as under the tournament rules, each team is deducted 10 runs for every wicket lost.

Hollioake and Flintoff, who had finished third in Group ‘A’ were given a chance to compete in the semifinals after a back strain to Shahid Afridi forced Pakistan, with only Wasim Akram fit, to default their semifinal match.

Earlier, the West Indies pair of Carl Hooper and Chris Gayle failed in their bid to pocket the lucrative first prize of US$65 000 for the champions in the inaugural Double Wicket World Cup in St Lucia.

Hooper and Gayle bowed out in the first semifinal at the scenic Beausejour Stadium here yesterday when they were beaten by three runs by Sri Lanka’s Aravinda de Silva and Mahela Jayawardene.

Hooper and Gayle, who had played unbeaten in topping Group ‘A’ with maximum six points, amassed 68 runs in their allotted 10 overs with Gayle scoring 46 and Hooper 17.

Gayle’s final total could have been higher but he was debited 20 runs after losing his wicket twice. With each dismissal costing the batting team 10 tens, Hooper was also penalised when he was trapped leg-before-wicket to de Silva as he missed a sweep shot.

Gayle finished off the West Indian innings in grand style by hoisting Jayawardene for three sixes in the last over but the final total proved inadequate as the two Sri Lankans batted solidly and sensibly.

Jayawardene, who endured a disappointing World Cup in South Africa, easily found the gaps in the field for boundaries en route to a fine unbeaten 42 while his mentor, the experienced de Silva supported with 24.

The Sri Lankans’ only blemish came when de Silva was run-out by a direct throw from St Lucia’s left-arm spinner Gary Mathurin.

The loss meant Hooper and Gayle had to settle for the losing semifinalist prize of US$20 000.

The historic tournament, which attracted pairs from the leading Test territories, was sanctioned by the International Cricket Council and endorsed by the West Indies Cricket Board.

Organised by the St Lucia Tourist Board, the tournament, which offered a grand total of US$175 000 dollars in prize money, was also sponsored by CricInfo, Caribbean Star Airline, AT and T Wireless, British Airways, Maiden Management and Sandals Hotel.

SEMI-FINAL 1: Sri Lanka beat West Indies by 3 runs.

West Indies 68 in 10 overs (Gayle 46, Hooper 17, Extras 5. de Silva 2-35, Jayawardene 1-60).

Sri Lanka 71 in 10 overs (Jayawardene 42, de Silva 24. Extras 5. Hooper 0-39, Gayle 0-40).

SEMI-FINAL 2: New Zealand won by 53 runs.

New Zealand 93 in 10 overs (Oram 52, Vettori 36; Hillioake 2-41, Flintoff 0-70). England 40 in 10 overs (Hillioake 25, Flintoff 9; Vettori 7-59, Oram 2-70).

FINAL: New Zealand won by 79 runs.