Aussies thrash Sri Lanka by 116 runs
Australia has given every indication this summer's triangular one-day cricket series might be another predictable rout, as Sri Lanka had no answer to the world champions' brutal batting and stingy bowling at Telstra Dome.
Australia hammered 5-318 from its 50 overs and then restricted the tourists to 7-202 to post a 116-run win that was inevitable from ball two, which speedster Brett Lee swung through the gate of Sri Lankan opener Upal Tharanga.
The second innings was a fizzer for the crowd of 33,930, who sat under an open roof for the first time at a Telstra Dome cricket match, and watched Australia comfortably gain a bonus point.
With Australia in such white-hot form and aided by the incentive of a World Cup on the not-too-distant horizon, the only contest in this summer's tri-series appears between South Africa and Sri Lanka, for the right to finish second.
Not that Australia didn't gain plenty. Far from it.
Test discards Simon Katich (60), Damien Martyn (70) and Michael Clarke (45 not out) underlined the wealth of batting talent around the country, while Andrew Symonds' knock of 66 and four mighty sixes was only ended by a bizarre dismissal.
With the Lankans unable to stop Symonds' power hitting, the Queenslander was brought undone by his partner, as Clarke could not avoid a fierce drive which looped off the non-striker's pad and rebounded straight to mid-off.
Extravagant with the bat, and aided by visiting captain Marvan Atapattu's generous insertion on a belter, the home side's bowlers were unwaveringly tight throughout.
Lee (2-29) struck twice early, and then Nathan Bracken was virtually unhittable.
Bracken, who struck in the first overs of both spells and finished with 2-11 from eight overs, continued his emergence as an effective first-change bowler in his breakthrough summer.
Even when Sri Lanka's bats could get something on Australia's bowlers, there was often a fielder in the way.
Ricky Ponting made a brilliant back-handed flick to run out Michael Vandort, and Katich leapt high to take a screamer to dismiss Atapattu.
Mahela Jayawardene was the only Sri Lankan to show any urgency, and made 50 from 47 balls.
Both sides will now head to Brisbane, where Australia plays South Africa on Sunday and Sri Lanka plays the Proteas on Tuesday.
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