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Aussie collapse hands Sri Lanka win

Australia paceman Brett Lee helps Sri Lankan batsman Dilruwan Perera to his feet after they collided mid-pitch in their match at the MCG in Melbourne, Australia, yesterday. PHOTO: AFP

Australia's Adam Gilchrist smashed a blistering 83 but his teammates collapsed to hand Sri Lanka an unlikely 13-run win at the MCG yesterday.

The tourists, in their final match of the tri-series, made 221, and Australia looked well set when Gilchrist launched an extraordinary attack at the top of the order.

However, the home side were dismissed for 208 from 48.1 overs to end a seven-match winning streak against the Sri Lankans.

Gilchrist smashed the Sri Lankan bowlers to all parts of the ground and Australia had already raced to 107 when opening partner James Hopes was bowled for 28 by Muttiah Muralitharan (2-42) in the 15th over.

The match turned when Gilchrist holed out to a fine catch by Lasith Malinga from the bowling of Nuwan Kulasekara (2-36) at long off for 83 just six runs later.

The veteran faced just 50 balls, belting 11 fours and two sixes and was on target to score Australia's fastest one-day international hundred.

Even then, defeat seemed unlikely but the match turned suddenly as Sri Lanka claimed four more wickets in quick succession, the home side losing 6-16 to slump to 123 for six.

Ricky Ponting was trapped lbw by Kulasekara for one, while Michael Clarke and Andrew Symonds both fell for ducks, all three batsmen falling with the score on 115.

When Brad Haddin was trapped lbw by a superb Malinga yorker for seven, Australia were in deep trouble.

Mike Hussey and Brad Hogg steadied the ship briefly, before Chamara Kapugedera bowled Hussey to remove him for five, leaving Australia 142 for seven.

Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene then claimed a superb diving catch to remove Mitchell Johnson and give Ishara Amerasinghe (3-44) his third wicket.

Jayawardene then sprung a surprise by bringing veteran Sanath Jayasuriya on for the 49th over.

With his first ball he clean bowled Lee for 37 to hand Sri Lanka the win.

Earlier, half-centuries from Jayawardene and Tillakaratne Dilshan steered Sri Lanka to 221.
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