Sri Lanka beat Australia by eight wickets in ODI

Mahela Jayawardene smashed an unbeaten half century to lead Sri Lanka to a commanding eight-wicket win over Australia in a rain-shortened limited-overs tri-series match. Australia was bowled out for just 158 after a top-order collapse in a match reduced to two 41-over innings due to a two-hour rain interruption. Faced with an amended victory target of 152 after adjustments made under the Duckworth-Lewis Method, Jayawardene carried his bat through the innings with 61 not out off 67 balls as the Sri Lankans reached the winning total in just the 25th over. Tillakaratne Dilshan made 45 off 41 balls and Kumar Sangakkara had 30 off 29. The Sri Lankans, chasing their first win in the tournament after they tied their last ODI against India earlier this week, gave themselves a great winning chance by restricting Australia. The match was reduced to 41 overs-a-side by afternoon rain, leaving Sri Lanka the task of scoring 3.85 runs an over for victory. David Hussey rescued Australia from an even lower score with a determined 58 off 64 balls for his third half-century of the tournament after being dropped on eight and 31. David Warner went for 13 being deceived by a slower ball from Lasith Malinga and hitting straight to Farveez Maharoof at mid-on. Ricky Ponting’s run of single-figure scores in the series continued when he was caught and bowled by Maharoof for two. Ponting was leading Australia in the injury absence of Michael Clarke, who is out with a strained hamstring. Michael Hussey (13), brought in for Clarke, clouted a huge six off Angelo Mathews but was caught behind off the next ball and Peter Forrest followed shortly afterwards for 16 to leave Australia 74 for five. All-rounder Maharoof, brought in for spinner Sachithra Senanayake, claimed two for 18 off eight overs and Thisara Perera, also involved in two run outs, captured two for 29 off seven overs.