1.15pm "What are the Australian selectors doing?" asks Jack. "How about either sticking by their selection policies or getting rid of them entirely?"

"Amusingly enough, the dead rubber syndrome of playing "everyone else" has produced a better team for Australia, now with Ferguson and Doherty, both of whom will strengthen the team no end," says Adrian Meredith.

Roas emails in: "Please Sanga, giving some experience to Dinesh Chandimal is not a bad idea."

Right - time for the first ball, and it will be Clint McKay from the Stanley Street End.

1pm "The pitch looks really good, all the wickets we've played on have been fantastic," Sangakkara says. "Everyone's happy back home, but it's easy to fall into the trap to take this one easy, but that's not how we're going to play it."

"They're obviously trialling a few things," Clarke says of Australia's selection. "It's great to see Mitchell Starc getting an opportunity. Hopefully he'll get a bit more pace and bounce on the Gabba wicket than he did in India."

12.50pm The news from the middle is that Kumar Sangakkara has won the toss and Sri Lanka will bat.

Sri Lanka have included Jeevan Mendis for his first match of the series, while Dilhara Fernando comes in having not played since the Twenty20. Murali and Nuwan Kulasekara have been left out.

Sri Lanka 1 Upul Tharanga, 2 Tillakaratne Dilshan, 3 Mahela Jayawardene, 4 Kumar Sangakkara (capt, wk), 5 Chamara Silva, 6 Angelo Mathews, 7 Jeevan Mendis, 8 Thisara Perera, 9 Suraj Randiv, 10 Lasith Malinga, 11 Dilhara Fernando.

With the series lost, Australia have taken the chance to make a few changes. Callum Ferguson comes in for his first international for more than a year, while Xavier Doherty is back and Mitchell Starc also comes in. Ricky Ponting is out, having been given extra time to prepare for his upcoming Sheffield Shield match, while Nathan Hauritz and Peter Siddle have been left out.

Australia 1 Shane Watson, 2 Brad Haddin (wk), 3 Michael Clarke (capt), 4 Cameron White, 5 Michael Hussey, 6 Callum Ferguson, 7 Steven Smith, 8 Mitchell Johnson, 9 Xavier Doherty, 10 Clint McKay, 11 Mitchell Starc.

12.40pm Good afternoon and welcome to the third ODI between Australia and Sri Lanka at the Gabba. I'm Brydon Coverdale and I'll be taking you through this match. Peter English is at the ground and he tells us it's sunny and clear, which is good news after the rain-affected Sydney game. We're about 10 minutes from the toss.

While you're waiting, check out our preview to the match, which includes the fascinating nugget that Australia have never lost eight matches in a row, which is a streak they will plummet to today if Sri Lanka win.

0.1

McKay to Tharanga, 1 wide, well wide of off stump, he's started with a real loosener

0.1

McKay to Tharanga, no run, dropped! Oh, a chance straight away, though a tough one for Smith at point. It was shortish and wide of off, bounced a bit more than Tharanga expected and he cut uppishly, Smith hurled himself high to his left and just got his fingertips to it. Very tough chance.

0.2

McKay to Tharanga, no run, left alone outside off

0.3

McKay to Tharanga, no run, pushed to cover, can't beat the field

0.4

McKay to Tharanga, no run, beaten outside off, that's a good ball from McKay, nips away off the seam

0.5

McKay to Tharanga, no run, pushed away defensively towards point

0.6

McKay to Tharanga, 1 run, another good ball, angling across the left-hander from a leg-stump line, he's got it away off a thick edge and pad down to fine leg

Mitchell Johnson takes the new ball in the absence of Peter Siddle. Young Starc is being kept for first change.

1.1

Johnson to Tharanga, no run, there's an appeal first up for Johnson, though he didn't seem entirely convinced. It was a good ball - right on off stump and hits Tharanga on the flap of the back pad, not a bad shout actually.

1.2

Johnson to Tharanga, no run, right on line, Tharanga defends

1.3

Johnson to Tharanga, 1 run, on the hips at 144kph, it's worked away through square leg

1.4

Johnson to Dilshan, no run, super bounce and pace! That was 143kph but rising from chest height as it went past Dilshan, who tried to cut. Haddin did extremely well to take that high above his head in his right hand

1.5

Johnson to Dilshan, 1 run, 146kph and on off stump, Dilshan drives wide of cover and gets off the mark

1.6

Johnson to Tharanga, 4 leg byes, down leg side, worst ball of a good over, Tharanga gets it fine enough to beat Doherty at fine leg

That was generally a pretty promising start from Johnson, he got pace, bounce and apart from that last ball, was on line

2.1

McKay to Dilshan, no run, ah yes, McKay is doing well here also - he's jagged it back off the seam and Dilshan plays outside that one, takes it on the back thigh

2.2

McKay to Dilshan, OUT, gone! McKay makes the breakthrough, it was on the pads, Dilshan tried to flick it through square leg but only succeeded in lofting it to Hussey, who was in the circle between midwicket and square leg

TM Dilshan c Hussey b McKay 1 (11m 4b 0x4 0x6) SR: 25.00

Here's Sangakkara a little earlier than he wanted to be at the crease.

2.3

McKay to Sangakkara, no run, left alone outside off

2.4

McKay to Sangakkara, no run, worked away to square leg, can't beat Hussey

2.5

McKay to Sangakkara, no run, good delivery! Beats the outside edge of Sangakkara's bat, that was pitched just outside leg and seams away enough to fly past the edge on or just outside off stump

2.6

McKay to Sangakkara, OUT, two in the over for McKay! This one seams away as well, but started outside off stump and the width enticed Sangakkara to slash at that one, a thin little edge is taken by Haddin

KC Sangakkara c †Haddin b McKay 0 (4m 4b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00

Big breakthrough for the Australians, they're right on top early.

3.1

Johnson to Tharanga, FOUR, cut hard and in the air but Tharanga gets it just over cover-point, and right off the meat of the bat. Clarke hurled his hand up in the air but wasn't quite tall enough

3.2

Johnson to Tharanga, no run, beaten outside off, good line, good length, good comeback

3.3

Johnson to Tharanga, no run, fullish and straight, Tharanga defends

3.4

Johnson to Tharanga, no run, 146kph from Johnson just outside off, Tharanga pushes to cover

3.5

Johnson to Tharanga, 2 runs, confidence from Tharanga, he gets a short one wide of off and cuts uppishly, not trying to keep it down, but he's placed it safely wide of third man, who runs around to his left to cut off the boundary

3.6

Johnson to Tharanga, no run, cut to point, Smith does the fielding

"How good does this pitch look for the Gabba Test?" says Damien. "Wouldn't want to be batting if the ball is flying around like this."

Here's Jayawardene to face his first ball

4.1

McKay to Jayawardene, no run, probing line just outside off, Jayawardene defends

4.2

McKay to Jayawardene, no run, on the pads and this one holds up a little off the pitch, which may have been what also did for Dilshan, and Mahela nudges it safely to leg

4.3

McKay to Jayawardene, OUT, McKay gets his third! Very sharp catch by Cameron White at second slip as Jayawardene drives hard at a ball on a good length outside off, there might have been a little seam movement away and it flew off a thick edge high to White's right

DPMD Jayawardene c White b McKay 0 (6m 3b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00

Dream start for Clint McKay and the Aussies. There's a little bit in the pitch, but nothing some application from the batsmen wouldn't fix. Here's Silva.

4.4

McKay to Silva, no run, defended away safely to cover

4.5

McKay to Silva, no run, oh, another good ball, this one swings in, which surprised Silva and it struck him on the left leg, fortunately for Silva it was heading down leg

4.6

McKay to Silva, (no ball) 4 runs, beautiful on-drive from Silva after McKay overpitches and oversteps, Ferguson chases it down and dives inside the boundary but they've managed to run four. And now we have a free hit

4.6

McKay to Silva, no run, ah, Silva can't get the free hit away, it was a well-directed bouncer that Silva tried to hook, and he couldn't connect

5.1

Johnson to Tharanga, no run, oh my goodness! This one has somehow missed the outside edge and the off stump, quick and well-directed

5.2

Johnson to Tharanga, no run, pushed away to cover, 147kph from Johnson, who's looking better in this short spell than he has for a little while

5.3

Johnson to Tharanga, no run, on the back foot, Tharanga punches to cover

5.4

Johnson to Tharanga, no run, oh, missed run-out! Tharanga pushed to mid-off and took off for a single, Silva wasn't interested and the fielder, Starc, threw at the striker's end but couldn't find the stumps, allowing Tharanga to get back. Phew, close call. Haddin hadn't got to the stumps yet to make the take.

5.5

Johnson to Tharanga, no run, on the pads, can't get it away

5.6

Johnson to Tharanga, 1 run, on the back foot, Tharanga gets a thickish edge that runs away safely to third man

6.1

McKay to Tharanga, FOUR, Tharanga gets some width and chases it, flays a cover-drive in the air wide of the fielder, that runs away to the boundary

6.2

McKay to Tharanga, 2 runs, straighter ball and fuller, Tharanga has another hefty swing and this one flies off a thickish edge high towards third man, but it's too square for the fielder

6.3

McKay to Tharanga, no run, nice comeback, McKay pitches on middle stump and seams it away, it was a good length and beat the bat

6.4

McKay to Tharanga, 1 leg bye, on the pads, Tharanga gets it away to third man

6.5

McKay to Silva, no run, wide of off, Silva defends

6.6

McKay to Silva, no run, again it's probing outside off, Silva defends

"Agreed that the inclusions strengthen the Australian line-up. But what happened to getting overs into Hauritz before the Ashes. Otherwise why drop Doherty after an incredibly performance on debut?" says Jack, who makes a valid point.

7.1

Johnson to Tharanga, no run, angled in to off stump, Tharanga defends

7.2

Johnson to Tharanga, 3 runs, good shot, Tharanga steps across to an inswinger just outside off and drives wide of cover, well placed

7.3

Johnson to Silva, 1 run, on the off stump, Silva nudges it behind square with soft hands

7.4

Johnson to Tharanga, no run, pushed towards mid-on, can't find the gap

7.5

Johnson to Tharanga, no run, short outside off, Tharanga doesn't play

7.6

Johnson to Tharanga, no run, pushed away defensively to cover

"Righto McKay off, Doherty on," requests Adrian Meredith, who I suspect to be a Tasmanian. "Johnson can have a few more overs before Starc comes on. Come on captain courageous." Doherty does often open the bowling for Tassie, he'd enjoy the challenge I'm sure.

No such change, sorry Adrian. McKay searching for another wicket.

8.1

McKay to Silva, no run, inside edge onto the pads, almost squeezes through towards the stumps

8.2

McKay to Silva, FOUR, clipped away through midwicket, that's a good shot from Silva, who kept it along the ground

8.3

McKay to Silva, no run, defended towards mid-off

8.4

McKay to Silva, no run, angled bat from Silva, who nudges to point

8.5

McKay to Silva, no run, on the pads, Silva can't quite get it through the gap at square leg

8.6

McKay to Silva, no run, good ball, bounces and surprises Silva, who defends uppishly

Sameer emails in: "Important innings for Silva, he's almost been dropped after 1st match of this series, he has to prove a lot, just wishing him to perform. Go SL."

9.1

Johnson to Tharanga, no run, aggressive pull there from Tharanga, but he doesn't time it and the ball finds midwicket

9.2

Johnson to Tharanga, no run, good ball, even though it was only 134kph, the bounce surprised Tharanga, who dropped his bottom hand off the bat as he defended that one

9.3

Johnson to Tharanga, no run, short outside off, Tharanga slashes hard at a cut but straight to the man at point - the batsman will be disappointed not to have found the gap there

9.4

Johnson to Tharanga, FOUR, this time Tharanga's cut does find the gap! Well played to a bad ball, short and wide of off, he didn't try to keep it down but placed it safely behind point and too square for third man

9.5

Johnson to Tharanga, no run, punched to cover, can't find the gap

9.6

Johnson to Tharanga, no run, better line from Johnson, on off stump and it's defended

Michael Clarke is taking the bowling Powerplay. Clint McKay to stay on.

10.1

McKay to Silva, 1 run, ooh, a close attempted run-out, Silva nudged it to midwicket and took off quickly, which was a brave thing to do as the fielder was Mike Hussey, who threw down the stumps at the bowler's end with Silva safely in his ground

10.2

McKay to Tharanga, 2 runs, again that's sharp running, worked off the hips behind square and they run hard to get two

10.3

McKay to Tharanga, no run, on off stump, defended back down the pitch

10.4

McKay to Tharanga, no run, beaten outside off, good ball of a better length and angling away, Tharanga tried to cover-drive

10.5

McKay to Tharanga, no run, ooh, chipped in the air to mid-on but just short of the fielder, that one held up a little off the pitch, landed only a metre or two in front of Callum Ferguson

10.6

McKay to Tharanga, 1 run, worked away to third man for a single

"Can't agree with you Adrian," says Peter Cassidy. "Sri Lanka will have the advantage of bowling under lights, so Australia have to make the most of the seaming conditions before the ball wears. Doherty will have an important role in the middle overs."

Now then, Mitchell Starc is not first change - it's Shane Watson.

11.1

Watson to Tharanga, no run, on target at 127kph, swinging in just a fraction, Tharanga defends

11.2

Watson to Tharanga, 2 wides, inswing once more but misdirected down leg, Haddin dives across and just gets a glove on that to nudge it down. Marais Erasmus has called that a wide, but I thought there was a noise on that and the ball had brushed the pad

11.2

Watson to Silva, no run, probing length outside off, as Watson tries to allow the ball to swing, Silva drives to mid-off

11.3

Watson to Silva, no run, bouncer - wide of off and the batsman sways safely out of the way

11.4

Watson to Silva, no run, on off stump and Silva blocks it back down the pitch

11.5

Watson to Silva, no run, wrong line down leg, Silva flicks it to square leg and can't get a run - he'll be disappointed with that

11.6

Watson to Silva, no run, is that out! No, it's bounced just short. That was a good, fullish outswinger that tempted Silva into a full-blooded drive that sailed in the air to point, Steven Smith takes it low to the ground but immediately signals to the umpires that the ball bounced short of him

Here's Mitchell Starc from the Stanley Street End

12.1

Starc to Tharanga, no run, good ball moving away just a fraction, Tharanga defends

12.2

Starc to Tharanga, no run, good line again, outside off at 138kph, Tharanga leaves it alone

12.3

Starc to Tharanga, no run, edged and just short! Starc has started well here - got a thick edge out of Tharanga and the ball bounces quite a way short of Watson at first slip

12.4

Starc to Tharanga, 1 wide, short and wide of off, Tharanga chases it and can't connect, but that's called a wide

12.4

Starc to Tharanga, no run, ah, beaten outside off at 141kph with good sharp bounce, Tharanga couldn't get bat on ball

12.5

Starc to Tharanga, 1 run, another very wide ball, this one Tharanga does connect with and slashes on the up to third man, it bounces safely short of Xavier Doherty

12.6

Starc to Silva, no run, some decent seam movement from Starc, who nibbles it back in to the right hander, who takes it in the midriff

That's Starc's first ODI over in Australia, and it was a good one.

13.1

Watson to Tharanga, no run, inswinger on the off stump, Tharanga drives to mid-off

13.2

Watson to Tharanga, no run, cut into the turf and it's collected by slip

13.3

Watson to Tharanga, 1 wide, bouncer but misdirected a little down leg, that's called a wide

13.3

Watson to Tharanga, 2 runs, driven in the air and mistimed, but that's landed safely between midwicket and mid-on

13.4

Watson to Tharanga, no run, Watson is getting good inswing to the left-hander, Tharanga drives this to mid-on

13.5

Watson to Tharanga, OUT, Watson makes the breakthrough! He's swung it in to Tharanga, who pushed forward without much intent, the ball struck him in line and Erasmus says that's out. Pitched in line, straightened well and the only question was height, but it looked good at first glance.

WU Tharanga lbw b Watson 28 (64m 53b 3x4 0x6) SR: 52.83

Watson has bowled well, he earned that wicket by pitching it up and swinging the ball. Tharanga's a big loss for Sri Lanka - he could have anchored this innings.

13.6

Watson to Mathews, no run, outside off and swinging away, Mathews leaves it alone

Eagle Eye says that lbw was crashing straight into middle and leg - fine decision from Marais Erasmus.

14.1

Starc to Silva, no run, Starc pushes this across the right-hander, who leaves it alone

14.2

Starc to Silva, no run, on a good length on off stump, Silva defends

14.3

Starc to Silva, 1 run, on the pads, it's worked away through square leg

14.4

Starc to Mathews, 1 run, just outside off at 138kph, cramping the batsman a little, but he manages to nudge a single to mid-on

14.5

Starc to Silva, 1 run, good running, pushed to midwicket with soft hands and they turn the strike over with a quick single

14.6

Starc to Mathews, 2 runs, swinging in towards leg stump, Mathews clips through square leg for a couple

And the players are taking drinks.

15.1

Watson to Silva, no run, full and swinging away, it's driven to cover

15.2

Watson to Silva, no run, on off stump, Chamara Silva defends

15.3

Watson to Silva, no run, clipped to midwicket and Silva wants a run, Ferguson is quickly on to that to deny him

15.4

Watson to Silva, 1 run, in the air and just safe! Silva has hooked but doesn't get hold of that at all, Ferguson at midwicket ran back and just couldn't get to it in time, not far off a catch chance

15.5

Watson to Mathews, 1 wide, down leg side, that's a wide

15.5

Watson to Mathews, 1 run, almost played on, a thick inside edge on to the pad and from there it could have gone anywhere - luckily for Mathews that has bounced towards gully to allow a single

15.6

Watson to Silva, no run, nudged to midwicket, can't find the gap

16.1

Starc to Mathews, 1 run, good inswing from Starc, attacking the stumps and Mathews works it through square leg

16.2

Starc to Silva, no run, no shot offered outside off

16.3

Starc to Silva, 1 wide, wrong line, down leg and swinging further down, it's a wide

16.3

Starc to Silva, no run, oh, half a shout from Starc as Silva shoulders arms to a ball that angles across and then straightens, would have just missed off but it's a dangerous ploy to leave that

16.4

Starc to Silva, 2 runs, fullish outside off and that's a good square drive, Smith in the deep collects that

16.5

Starc to Silva, no run, shortish and it's left alone

16.6

Starc to Silva, 3 runs, confident and full-blooded cover drive this time, Silva throws everything at that and picks up three as the sweeper Steven Smith collects

17.1

Watson to Silva, no run, attacking the stumps again, it's pushed back to Watson

17.2

Watson to Silva, no run, a hint of outswing, it's been nudged towards cover

17.3

Watson to Silva, 1 wide, slower ball down leg side a touch, that's a wide

17.3

Watson to Silva, no run, angled bat from Silva, who just pushes along the ground to point

17.4

Watson to Silva, no run, ah, good outswing from Watson and Silva dabs at that, tries to guide through gully but it beats the bat

17.5

Watson to Silva, no run, bouncer and well-directed, Silva ducks it

17.6

Watson to Silva, no run, and a second bouncer to surprise Silva, again he ducks underneath it

Sameer emails in: "What a smooth run-up for Starc and wow, excellent seam and wrist position. Perfect. Looks better than Johnson to me. Anyone agrees?"

Starc does look impressive. I must admit I haven't seen much of him before, which is not surprising as he doesn't have many state games behind him. Anyway, he's having a rest now, and Xavier Doherty comes on.

18.1

Doherty to Mathews, 2 runs, curving in towards the pads, it's worked down to fine leg for a couple of runs

18.2

Doherty to Mathews, no run, defended back down the pitch

18.3

Doherty to Mathews, no run, ah yes, Doherty beats the batsman this time with his first ball that has turned, outside off and Mathews looked to dab it fine

18.4

Doherty to Mathews, no run, pushed to point, can't beat the field

18.5

Doherty to Mathews, 1 run, 98kph, that's quick stuff for a spinner, it's driven down towards long-off

18.6

Doherty to Silva, no run, again flat and quick, on line and defended

19.1

Watson to Mathews, no run, good line on off stump at 135kph, Mathews defends

19.2

Watson to Mathews, 1 run, almost inside-edge onto the stumps, it's sneaked past towards square leg to allow him a single

19.3

Watson to Silva, no run, nice line from Watson, on off stump and swinging away just a teensy bit - Silva defends

19.4

Watson to Silva, no run, slower ball on leg stump, it runs off the pads through to Haddin

19.5

Watson to Silva, no run, straight-bat defence from Silva

19.6

Watson to Silva, 1 run, again full enough to swing, squares the batsman up and a thick edge runs away to third man

20.1

Doherty to Silva, 2 runs, a delicate little dab from Silva, who looks to sweep fine and gets a top edge down towards fine leg

20.2

Doherty to Silva, no run, driven to cover and can't beat the field

20.3

Doherty to Silva, no run, outside off, Silva prods to cover

20.4

Doherty to Silva, 2 runs, good curve in to the right-hander, Silva does well to sweep it fine but it's been well fielded on the boundary to cut off a couple of runs

20.5

Doherty to Silva, no run, drifting in at 91kph, straight-bat defence

20.6

Doherty to Silva, FOUR, wider of off and Silva latches on to that one, cuts hard behind point and finds the boundary, not the best ball Doherty has delivered

Starc returns, he's changed ends and is at the Vulture Street End

21.1

Starc to Mathews, no run, angled across Mathews, who drives to cover

21.2

Starc to Mathews, no run, straighter line now, pushed back defensively to Starc

21.3

Starc to Mathews, 1 wide, sprayed a little too wide of off, and it's called as an extra

21.3

Starc to Mathews, 1 wide, similar ball, this one is also called a wide though I must say that was a bit harsh - it went past the batsman just inside the lines that are meant to guide the umpires

21.3

Starc to Mathews, no run, beaten outside off, good, straighter delivery

21.4

Starc to Mathews, OUT, got him! Starc is ecstatic as he collects his first ODI wicket! Angled across Mathews, who was on the move and trying to drive through off, a thick inside edge rockets back onto the leg stump

AD Mathews b Starc 9 (35m 16b 0x4 0x6) SR: 56.25

Here's Jeevan Mendis, and the Australians will be aiming to run through the lower order now

21.5

Starc to Mendis, no run, outside off stump, left alone

21.6

Starc to Mendis, no run, on the stumps, Mendis works it to square leg and can't find a gap

And we have a delay as the sightscreen struggles to get rid of the sponsor's logo.

22.1

Doherty to Silva, no run, good drift in from outside off, chopped down into the turf to slip

22.2

Doherty to Silva, 1 run, right on line, Silva sweeps from on middle and gets it away behind square leg

Doherty comes over the wicket to the left-hander

22.3

Doherty to Mendis, no run, Mendis lunges forward to defend

22.4

Doherty to Mendis, no run, good sharp turn this time, Mendis backs away to cut and can't beat the field

22.5

Doherty to Mendis, 1 run, worked away through square leg and Mendis is off the mark

22.6

Doherty to Silva, no run, Silva gets forward to defend with a straight bat

23.1

Starc to Mendis, 1 run, down leg side and Mendis tickles it away to deep backward square

23.2

Starc to Silva, no run, left alone outside off

23.3

Starc to Silva, no run, banged in short of a length, Silva can't get that away and takes it on the midriff

23.4

Starc to Silva, no run, good line at 140kph, not giving Silva any room outside off, he defends it straight down at his feet

23.5

Starc to Silva, no run, fuller and straighter, trying to sneak one through, Silva gets the bat down to defend

23.6

Starc to Silva, 1 run, cut down to third man but it wasn't wide enough for Silva to get it off the middle of the bat

24.1

Doherty to Silva, no run, good drift in to the right-hander, who defends

24.2

Doherty to Silva, 1 leg bye, and again Silva tries the sweep from middle stump, it's a dangerous ploy and he hasn't got that off the bat, Doherty asks the question without any support and in fact that's not a bad appeal - struck the pad in front of middle, though height was an issue

24.3

Doherty to Mendis, 1 wide, turns down leg and Haddin whips the bails off as Mendis threatens to lift his back leg - he's just kept the toe grounded. Erasmus asks for the replay and Mendis is safe, though he lifts his foot just after the bails come off. A tight one, in the end, though it looked innocuous at first

24.3

Doherty to Mendis, 1 run, worked away behind square leg

24.4

Doherty to Silva, no run, soft hands from Silva, who nudges to point

24.5

Doherty to Silva, 1 run, slower from Doherty at 89kph, it's pushed to cover for a quick single

24.6

Doherty to Mendis, 1 run, on the back foot, Mendis punches through cover

25.1

Starc to Mendis, no run, full, yorker length ball wide of off at 141kph, Mendis drives to cover

25.2

Starc to Mendis, 1 run, cut hard in the air and one bounce to Watson at third man, Mendis wasn't exactly in control of that

25.3

Starc to Silva, no run, ah yes, good bounce from Starc, who beats the bat outside off with a ball that's still on the rise as it gets to Haddin

25.4

Starc to Silva, 1 run, cut forward of point, there's a man in the deep to keep that to one

25.5

Starc to Mendis, OUT, gone! Starc gets his second with another ball that bounces sharply off a good length, Mendis has just tried to defend that ball and a thick edge is taken at chest height by Haddin, very good bowling from Starc

BMAJ Mendis c †Haddin b Starc 5 (18m 11b 0x4 0x6) SR: 45.45

Well, here's something. Three slips in during the 26th over!

25.6

Starc to Randiv, no run, straight ball, it's defended safely

Michael Clarke is going for the kill, now. Clint McKay comes back.

26.1

McKay to Silva, 1 run, short and swivelled through midwicket with an ungainly sort of pull

26.2

McKay to Randiv, 1 run, ah, good bounce from McKay and Randiv gets it high off the bat, it lobs to the vacant gully region

26.3

McKay to Silva, no run, cut towards point, can't beat the field

26.4

McKay to Silva, 1 run, oh, for about the fourth time this innings the batsman has cut on the up to third man, only for the ball to bounce a metre or two short - risky stuff

26.5

McKay to Randiv, no run, punched off the back foot to point, where Smith hurls himself to his right and makes an excellent save

26.6

McKay to Randiv, no run, this one nips in to the right-hander, who defends

27.1

Starc to Silva, no run, yorker outside off, it's jammed out towards point

27.2

Starc to Silva, no run, bouncer, Silva ducks underneath it

27.3

Starc to Silva, no run, good sharp bounce again from Starc, Silva sways out of the way

27.4

Starc to Silva, OUT, Starc has three! And two of them from batsmen playing on! Silva has tried to drive through off, almost down on one knee as he plays it, he hasn't judged the angle quite right and a thick inside edge crashes into the stumps

LPC Silva b Starc 33 (105m 72b 2x4 0x6) SR: 45.83

Sri Lanka in real trouble now - Silva had to be the man to guide them to a competitive score.

27.5

Starc to Perera, no run, good sharp bounce again, that's what has had the Sri Lankans worried about Starc this innings, Perera defends warily

27.6

Starc to Perera, 1 run, shouts of catch it! But they can't - it was a good bouncer, well-directed and in trying to get out of the way Perera has skewed it in the air off the bat towards gully, second slip and backward point converge and it lands between them

Sri Lanka are taking a gamble now, taking the batting Powerplay. It worked the other night in Melbourne when they appeared to be in all sorts of trouble. Can they manufacture something again?

28.1

McKay to Perera, no run, shortish and on line, Perera ducks it

28.2

McKay to Perera, 4 leg byes, worked away off the hips for a boundary, fine leg can't save that, so the Powerplay has started well for Sri Lanka as they finally reach their 100

28.3

McKay to Perera, 1 wide, wrong line from McKay, wide down leg side

28.3

McKay to Perera, no run, leading edge lands safely - Perera didn't know much about that one. In fact it's off the shoulder of the bat, lobs in the air to a silly-point sort of position

28.4

McKay to Perera, 2 runs, good shot, Perera pulls that confidently over midwicket but there's a man in the deep

28.5

McKay to Perera, OUT, good catch from Smith! Perera threw everything at that one to a fuller ball, it's flown off a leading edge towards point, Smith looks to chase it back behind square but then has to adjust his movement, and takes it well above his head, facing back towards third man. That was not an easy catch, but Smith made it look pretty comfortable in the end.

NLTC Perera c Smith b McKay 3 (6m 7b 0x4 0x6) SR: 42.85

28.6

McKay to Randiv, 1 run, edged through the vacant third slip region, third man collects

So, Clint McKay has four wickets - can he get his first five-for? He doesn't have one at List A level, let alone ODI.

29.1

Starc to Randiv, 1 run, angled across Randiv, who drives to cover

29.2

Starc to Malinga, no run, Malinga! He's not going to defend too much - backs away and slaps it back to the bowler, trying for a boundary - from his first ball!

29.3

Starc to Malinga, 1 wide, again he tries for a big shot, but this one is too short for Malinga to reach, and it's called a wide

29.3

Starc to Malinga, no run, Malinga backs off again and Starc does well to push it across outside off, wide enough that Malinga couldn't reach it, but only because he'd backed off, so it wasn't called a wide

29.4

Starc to Malinga, no run, again Malinga gives himself room, drives this one to cover

29.5

Starc to Malinga, 2 runs, pulled away through midwicket, it's chased down inside the boundary

29.6

Starc to Malinga, no run, Malinga throws everything at that, trying to slog it over midwicket, he can't connect

30.1

McKay to Randiv, FOUR, not a bad ball from McKay, good line and length, but Randiv has crunched this one forward of point for a boundary, making use of the Powerplay

30.2

McKay to Randiv, no run, and McKay comes back with a similar ball, but one that bounces a fraction more, and it beats the bat

30.3

McKay to Randiv, OUT, McKay has five! That's what the Aussies need to do against the tail - aim at the stumps! Randiv was backing off and opening the shoulders, he missed and McKay hit the off stump

S Randiv b McKay 7 (23m 9b 1x4 0x6) SR: 77.77

30.4

McKay to Fernando, no run

30.5

McKay to Fernando, 1 run, Fernando opens the face and runs it towards second slip, who knocks it down on the bounce

30.6

McKay to Malinga, no run, backs off and tries for a powerful pull but McKay follows him and beats the bat

Now then, McKay has his best List A (and ODI) figures. Starc has never taken four-for - can he get his best figures as well?

31.1

Starc to Fernando, no run, beaten outside off

31.2

Starc to Fernando, 1 wide, shortish and wide of off, Fernando chases it but can't connect

31.2

Starc to Fernando, no run, beaten outside off again, sails over off stump

31.3

Starc to Fernando, 1 run, tip and run from Fernando, who pushes to cover and Smith hares across from point to throw down the stumps at the non-striker's end, but Fernando was well and truly home

For Malinga, there is a fielder dead straight behind the bowler's arm on the boundary. It's what they call straight-hit - but I've rarely if ever seen the position used at international level

31.4

Starc to Malinga, no run, Malinga swings wildly and can't connect

31.5

Starc to Malinga, no run, slower one now, Malinga swings and misses

31.6

Starc to Malinga, OUT, It's all over for Sri Lanka, Starc finishes with four as Malinga pulls over midwicket but gets it high off the bat, Ferguson at deep midwicket gets underneath that and has no trouble taking the catch

SL Malinga c Ferguson b Starc 2 (15m 9b 0x4 0x6) SR: 22.22

Now then, because Sri Lanka were dismissed so early, Australia will begin their chase immediately. The innings break will be delayed. The Sri Lankans are already out on the field ready to defend 115.

Well, Sri Lanka have been bowled out for 115, quite a change from their first two games. Clint McKay (5-33) and Mitchell Starc (4-27) have both produced their best figures on a pitch offering good bounce. Sri Lanka need something miraculous to win this.