Opener Simon Katich responded to demands for his omission with a patient hand to help Australia to a five-wicket victory over an injury-impeded Sri Lanka in the tri-series match at Adelaide Oval.

A slow, tinder dry surface offered few comforts to the quick bowlers and fewer still to the batsmen, and Katich (52 from 89 balls) was not flustered in setting up a pursuit that ultimately reeled in Sri Lanka's 8-218 in the 49th over.

Damien Martyn (46 from 72) also fought hard, adding 62 with Andrew Symonds before the ever dangerous Muttiah Muralitharan provided a late fright with two wickets in three balls.

The Sri Lankans were earlier wounded by the withdrawal of the explosive Sanath Jayasuriya with a thigh strain, and could never quite assert their authority over Australia's bowlers.

No visiting batsman reached 35 and all were restricted by teasing efforts from Brad Hogg (2-35), Nathan Bracken (2-45) and Symonds (3-48).

Sri Lanka's openers made a glacial start with only 12 runs from the first six overs, and it was not until the introduction of Bracken that any real progress was made.

The Australian bowlers toiled in temperatures over 40 degrees, a heat handicap made less severe by the fall of regular wickets.

Jehan Mubarak drove to mid off for 34, Upul Tharanga toiled 66 balls for 31 then miscued McGrath, and Sangakkara was defeated in Hogg's first over, the ball screwing back into the stumps via a partial defensive stroke.

Hogg found ample turn and a willing ally in Bracken, who compensated for his tardy first over with a spell of round-the-wicket cutters that drew in-field catches from Marvan Atapattu (32) and Mahela Jayawardene (25).

Tillakaratne Dilshan's failure, bowled by a sharp turner from Hogg for one, left the Sri Lankans gasping at 6-167, and they recovered only slightly at the finish.

Adam Gilchrist provided a whippy beginning to the chase with 34, but his departure, shelling Nuwan Kulasekara (2-32) to mid-off, removed the prospect of a bonus point to the home side.

Little by little Katich found his feet after a poor first few overs, and he was not fazed by the loss of Brad Hodge, bowled between bat and pad.

A diet of glances and drives eventually took Katich to the highest score of the match, though his thin edge into Sangakkara's gloves came at a time when the contest was still in doubt.

Symonds and Martyn proceeded to play within themselves and seemed to have closed out the match, only for Symonds to foolishly slog Muralitharan (2-35) into deep midwicket's hands.

Martyn lasted another two balls, clean bowled by a nasty off break he might have played forward to, his departure leaving Michael Hussey and Michael Clarke with an awkward closing assignment.

They did not panic, carefully negotiating Muralitharan's last two overs then stroking the winning runs off Chaminda Vaas.

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