Australia crush Sri Lankans

Australia has crushed Sri Lanka's spirit with a convincing six-wicket victory at the WACA Ground in Perth tonight.

Gilchrist stole the show and stitched up the man of the match award for his breath-taking knock of 116 off 105 balls. He hit 11 balls to the boundary rope, and four over it, to the delight of the 20,000 in the ground and millions watching around the nation and the world on television.

Controversy surrounds the Australians and resting players, though since Gilchrist had the week off, earlier this month, he has returned with a new lease on batting. Gilchrist has also shrugged off some critics after scoring his first one-day century since last October's World Super Series.

With regular captain, Ricky Ponting, resting at his home on the NSW Southern Coast, it was Gilchrist who led out the Australians for the second consecutive match. Having previously skipped the team, it was nothing new for the world-recognised keeper-batsman.

A combination of a thigh, hamstring and back spasm injury saw Sri Lanka's regular captain Marvan Atapattu watch on from the players’ pavilion. Chaminda Vaas, who holds the record for a hat-trick in the first over of a One-Day International, led Sri Lanka into battle on a mild 22 degree day at Perth.

Winning the toss, the Sri Lankans batted first on the pace friendly pitch. Brett Lee troubled the openers in his first over then snared Sanath Jayasuriya, last Sunday's hero, in his second over. Lee past the 150kph mark on the speed-ball tracker numerous times throughout his 10-over spell and finished with figures of 2/42 after Chamara Kapugedera (22) hooked the ball, in the 49th over, to Brad Hogg at mid-off.

Andrew Symonds was dynamic, as always, in the field and showed practise can indeed make perfect as he spectacularly ran out Kumar Sangakkara (6) when Jehan Mubarak called yes after hitting near point. Symonds after releasing the ball crashed into the stumps.

Mubarak (15) fell in Stuart Clark's first over, when his pull shot found Brad Hodge, and Sri Lanka were on the ropes at 3-27 in the 11th over. However, a 121-run fourth wicket stand between Mahela Jayawardene and Russel Arnold saved the visitors from embarrassment.

Both recorded fifties before Arnold (56) handed Stuart Clark his second wicket when he glided the ball to Michael Clarke at backward point. Jayawardene (69) fell, four overs later, to the off-spin of Symonds with Glenn McGrath taking a classic catch contender down at fine leg.

Tillakaratne Dilshan and Chamara Kapugedera saw the total past 200, and shared the second partnership of any real substance. The pair put on 54 in seven overs before Hogg and McGrath ran out Dilshan (35). Kapugedera followed next over with Hogg amongst the action again at mid-off.

Nuwan Kulasekara was run out after Vaas attempted to tip and run. Andrew Symonds took five paces to the stumps and gently knock off the bails. Vaas remained not out on six, while Muttiah Muralitharan faced two balls for three runs. Sri Lanka finished with 8/233 from their 50 overs.

Australia in reply began cautiously. After five overs the openers, Gilchrist and Katich, had only notched up 17 runs, but the next five set the platform for victory as the opening pair took the total over 50 in the ninth over.

Gilchrist raced to his fifty off only 44-balls, plundering 20 runs off Akalanka Ganegama's first over. Despite no longer calling Perth his home, Katich enjoyed some crowd support, though most was for the hometown hero.

Katich brought up the Australian 100 at the start of the 17th over, but it took until the 24th before he joined the half-century club. A 10-wicket win appeared likely, though abruptly ended on 191 when Muralitharan grasped the return catch offered by Gilchrist.

The focus turned to whether Katich could power onto a hundred himself with the opener still needing 32 runs while the home side was 43 shy of the 234-run target.

Hodge (2) fell victim to the game plan that would enable Katich to reach 100 when he edged to keeper Sangakkara while pushing forward.

Katich notched his highest ever ODI score, previously 76 v West Indies, and fell to a Vaas slower ball two overs later for 82. Vaas finished with 2/40 after he snared Symonds, who was attempting to secure victory inside 40 overs.

Martyn and Michael Clarke were left to score the winning runs, though missed the bonus point by six balls.

Next match in the series is scheduled for Tuesday, South Africa and Sri Lanka square off at Perth in a day/night encounter that is now likely to decide who will take on Australia in the best of three finals.

Australia's next match in the tournament is scheduled for Friday, a day/night match in Melbourne against South Africa.

Full scorecard available here.

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