Aussies through

Stuart Clark and heavy rain helped Australia to a 24-run win over Sri Lanka on Friday, giving the home side a berth in the tri-series cricket final.

Stuart Clark and heavy rain helped Australia to a 24-run win over Sri Lanka on Friday, giving the home side a berth in the tri-series cricket final.

Clark took 2-8 in five overs, including Sri Lankan openers Dilruwan Perera lbw for 1 and Sanath Jayasuriya for a first-ball duck, as Sri Lanka could only manage 77 for four in 29.3 overs before persistent showers hit the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Australia was restricted to 184-7 in their innings after being sent in to bat when Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene won the toss. The win with a bonus point gave Australia 22 points in the standings and a spot in the best-of-three finals series against Sri Lanka or India.

Earlier, Sri Lanka looked like favourites to win the match when their bowlers, led by Farveez Maharoof8217;s 2-20 in 10 overs, held Australia8217;s total under 200.

Mike Hussey was Australia8217;s top scorer with an unbeaten 64 and Michael Clarke hit 50, but Australia8217;s other leading batsmen, including captain Ricky Ponting, failed again at the crease.

Scoreboard

Australia vs Sri Lanka, Melbourne

Australia: A Gilchrist b Vaas 6, M Hayden c Silva b Maharoof 23, R Ponting run out 11, M Clarke c and b Muralitharan 50, A Symonds c Sangakkara b Maharoof 4, M Hussey not out 64, J Hopes st Sangakkara b Muralitharan 11, B Hogg c Dilshan b Malinga 4, M Johnson not out 6;

Extras b-2, w-3: 5;

TOTAL for seven wkts in 50 overs:184

Fall of wickets: 1-12, 2-39, 3-44, 4-54, 5-144, 6-166, 7-173.

Bowling: Vaas 10-1-34-1, Malinga 10-1-44-1, Maharoof 10-1-20-2, Muralitharan 10-0-37-2, Amerasinghe 10-0-47-0.

Story continues below this ad

Sri Lanka: M Perera lbw b Clark 1, S Jayasuriya c Ponting b Clark 0, K Sangakkara c Symonds b Hopes 22, M Jayawardene c Gilchrist b Bracken 27, C Silva not out 16, T Dilshan not out 9;

Extras lb-1, w-1: 2;

TOTAL: 4 wickets; 29.3 overs: 77;

Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-3, 3-42, 4-64.

Bowling: Bracken 6-1-13-1, Clark 5-1-8-2, Johnson 7-1-17-0, Hopes 7-2-23-1,Hogg 4.3-1-15-0.

Points to ponder

Team P W L NR Pts NRR

Aus 6 4 1 1 22 1.095

Ind 6 2 2 2 12 -0.215

Sl 6 1 4 1 6 -1.054