Superstar Sanath Jayasuriya returned from a shoulder injury to slay Australia with a pulsating century in Sri Lanka's 51-run triumph at the SCG.

The dashing left-hander enjoyed being back at one of his happiest hunting grounds, slaughtering the home side's attack with 114 off 96 balls to catapult his team to an imposing 7-309 from 50 overs.

Australia never really mounted a serious threat with question marks remaining over the top order as the home side was dismissed for 258 off the final ball of its 50 overs.

Michael Clarke (67), James Hopes (43) and Brad Haddin (41) adding respectability to the tally.

But the failed run chase must surely keep opener Phil Jaques' name in the forefront of selectors' minds.

He scored an impressive 94 on Friday against South Africa in Melbourne - the highest score by an Australian on debut - but was dropped from the squad following the return of Simon Katich from a groin strain.

Katich failed to shore up his spot, making only 19 and having a life on the same score before being caught on the midwicket boundary.

The win pushed Sri Lanka to second place on the tri-series table, one point behind Australia with a game in hand.

Australia now has two wins and two losses in a tri-series competition which has become much more competitive than critics thought possible only a fortnight ago.

The 36-year-old Jayasuriya was simply brutal, forcing Ricky Ponting to sub second-gamer Brett Dorey (0-35 off four overs) at the end of just the 19th over.

Allrounder James Hopes (0-65 off six overs) took more of a belting but was spared because of his batting prowess.

Jayasuriya's innings was well supported by Kumar Sangakkara (78) and Mahela Jayawardene (56).

It was Jayasuriya's third straight one-day ton at the ground and his three highest one-day scores against Australia have all come in Sydney.

The third highest runscorer in one-day history has a poor overall record against Australia but has found the SCG wicket perfectly suited to his ultra-attacking game.

He made Australia pay for resting marksman Glenn McGrath with the beanpole seamer having dismissed the left-hander seven times in the shortened version of the game.

Jayasuriya wore the 07 on the back of his shirt but he was more like 007 the way he coolly lifted Lee over fine leg for a massive six. In total, he cleared the rope four times during his entertaining knock.

Chasing a target of 310, Australia couldn't generate any momentum with Damien Martyn (8) failing again at the top of the order in Adam Gilchrist's absence.

Ponting tried to lift the scoring rate but could only manage 13 while Katich fell soon after.

Haddin and Clarke tried to put Australia back on track, but their 69-run fourth-wicket stand came to an end on when the `keeper was bowled between his legs by spin wizard Muralitharan.

The run chase then really hit the skids a run later with Australia slipping to 5-111 after runscoring machine Mike Hussey (0) was run out, caught short of his ground from a Chaminda Vaas direct hit.

Andrew Symonds (31) and Clarke tried to launch a last-ditch fightback but when Symonds was run out in a mix-up, the match was as good as dead.

Hopes and Brad Hogg stopped the tourists from earning the bonus point with a 60-run ninth wicket stand.

The tri-series now moves to Adelaide with Sri Lanka taking on South Africa on Tuesday and Australia playing Sri Lanka on Australia Day.

Australian captain Ponting praised Jayasuriya who flew into Australia on Friday morning after leaving Sri Lanka's recent tour of New Zealand early.

"I thought they certainly batted extremely well, I mean Jayasuriya's knock was something pretty special and he had Sangakkara out there with him to play very well around him," Ponting said.

"They had all the momentum going their way early on, and it just seemed that every ball they hit went through or over the field.

"We have seen Sanath do that to us before, he just gets on a bit of a roll and he just keeps on going and he has no fear, and today it came off very, very well."

Sri Lankan skipper Marvan Atapattu was delighted with the victory but said the tourists weren't thinking about making the tri-series finals just yet.

"It is nice to win against the No.1 team in the world and it gives you so much confidence going forward," he said.

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