One-day wonder: Aussies choke!

Australia, set 246 to win, were on course for a 2-0 lead after a 148 run second wicket stand between Matthew Hayden 93 and Ricky Ponting 69. But they were restricted to 244 for five with Andrew Symonds and Michael Bevan falling short in the last over.

Sanath Jayasuriya top scored for the hosts with 55, adding 121 in 135 balls for the first wicket with Marvan Atapattu 47.

Sri Lanka8217;s middle and lower order had collapsed against the occasional Left-arm spin of Michael Clarke.

Clarke grabbed career-best figures of five for 35 from 7.5 overs as Sri Lanka lost their last seven wickets for 29 runs.

Sri Lanka struck early in the Australia innings as Clarke, promoted ahead of Adam Gilchrist to counter the spinners, sliced a catch to backward point third ball from Vaas.

But Ponting and Hayden quickly settled and took the attack to Sri Lanka8217;s spinners, six of whom were used during the innings. Ponting passed 7000 one-day runs shortly before bringing up his 38th one-day fifty off 68 balls.

Upul Chandana eventually broke through in the 32nd over as Ponting top-edged a sweep to be caught at deep backward square. Vaas took his second wicket shortly after being recalled to the attack as Damien Martyn mistimed a cover drive off a slower ball. Kumar Dharmasena8217;s dismissal of Hayden, caught at wide long off, brought the hosts right back into the game with Australia on 190 for four. Hayden8217;s 93 came from 116 balls with five fours and a six.