Lasith Malinga's five wickets and Upul Tharanga's century hauled Sri Lanka back into the one-day international series against Australia with a 78-run victory at Hambantota.
Knowing an Australia win would see the tourists take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series, Sri Lanka recorded an ultimately comfortable triumph to leave everything to play for heading into the final two clashes.
After Sri Lanka had been put into bat, Tharanga hit 111 from 139 balls, his 11th ODI century, as the home side posted 286 for nine before Malinga took five for 28 off 8.2 overs as Australia were bowled out for 208 in reply.
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After being dismissed cheaply in their opening two defeats, Tharanga, who returned from a three-month drug ban before the series, and skipper Tillakaratne Dilshan (55) paved the way for a competitive total as they put on 139 for the first wicket.
Experienced duo Kumar Sangakkara (49) and Mahela Jayawardene (36) also contributed rapid knocks, but those four players were the only ones to reach double figures for Sri Lanka as Australia left-armer Doug Bollinger claimed four for 42 to restrict them to a score of under 300 after they had been 220 for one in the 39th over.
Bollinger struck three vital blows in successive overs in the batting powerplay, during which Sri Lanka only managed 12 runs for the loss of three wickets, as they floundered towards the end.
Australia were unable to build on that momentum, though, as they lost both openers early on in their reply.
The big-hitting Shane Watson had made only five when he became the first of Malinga's victims, while Brad Haddin fell for the same score after being bowled by Shaminda Eranga.
That left Australia on 18 for two and they lost their third wicket with the score on 52 when Eranga (two for 38) claimed the scalp of Ricky Ponting, the former captain caught and bowled for 22.
Current skipper Michael Clarke (46) then joined forces with Michael Hussey (63) in a 71-run stand for the fourth wicket to help Australia start their fightback.
Hussey also shared in a 45-run sixth-wicket stand with Steven Smith, but Australia's hopes of victory took a huge blow when the pair were dismissed in successive balls, Smith run out for 18 and Hussey then snared with the first delivery of Malinga's seventh over.
That left the tourists on 183 for seven and the end was not long in coming, Malinga bowling both Xavier Doherty and Bollinger as Australia, having lost their final five wickets for 25 runs, were dismissed with more than five overs remaining.
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Knowing an Australia win would see the tourists take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series, Sri Lanka recorded an ultimately comfortable triumph to leave everything to play for heading into the final two clashes.
After Sri Lanka had been put into bat, Tharanga hit 111 from 139 balls, his 11th ODI century, as the home side posted 286 for nine before Malinga took five for 28 off 8.2 overs as Australia were bowled out for 208 in reply.
CLICK HERE FOR SCORECARD
After being dismissed cheaply in their opening two defeats, Tharanga, who returned from a three-month drug ban before the series, and skipper Tillakaratne Dilshan (55) paved the way for a competitive total as they put on 139 for the first wicket.
Experienced duo Kumar Sangakkara (49) and Mahela Jayawardene (36) also contributed rapid knocks, but those four players were the only ones to reach double figures for Sri Lanka as Australia left-armer Doug Bollinger claimed four for 42 to restrict them to a score of under 300 after they had been 220 for one in the 39th over.
Bollinger struck three vital blows in successive overs in the batting powerplay, during which Sri Lanka only managed 12 runs for the loss of three wickets, as they floundered towards the end.
Australia were unable to build on that momentum, though, as they lost both openers early on in their reply.
The big-hitting Shane Watson had made only five when he became the first of Malinga's victims, while Brad Haddin fell for the same score after being bowled by Shaminda Eranga.
That left Australia on 18 for two and they lost their third wicket with the score on 52 when Eranga (two for 38) claimed the scalp of Ricky Ponting, the former captain caught and bowled for 22.
Current skipper Michael Clarke (46) then joined forces with Michael Hussey (63) in a 71-run stand for the fourth wicket to help Australia start their fightback.
Hussey also shared in a 45-run sixth-wicket stand with Steven Smith, but Australia's hopes of victory took a huge blow when the pair were dismissed in successive balls, Smith run out for 18 and Hussey then snared with the first delivery of Malinga's seventh over.
That left the tourists on 183 for seven and the end was not long in coming, Malinga bowling both Xavier Doherty and Bollinger as Australia, having lost their final five wickets for 25 runs, were dismissed with more than five overs remaining.
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