Australia in Sri Lanka, 2011-12

Tharanga put a three-month drugs ban behind him to compile his fourth one-day international hundred of 2011, his 12th in all, to give his side a series lifeline. The ninth Sri Lankan to pass 4,000 one-day international runs - but, in terms of innings (119), the quickest - Tharanga put on 139 with Dilshan and 81 with Sangakkara as his side threatened to reach 300. The lower-middle order fell away, but 286, Sri Lanka's highest at home against Australia, still proved more than enough. Malinga removed Watson in the third over en route to equalling Sri Lanka's best analysis against Australia - Sanath Jayasuriya also took five for 28, at Galle in August 1999 - but just as impressive was the performance of the 25-year-old debutant seamer Shaminda Eranga, who removed Haddin with his third ball, then deceived the in-form Ponting with a well-disguised slower one. Australia's dwindling hopes were finally extinguished when Mike Hussey slashed Malinga to point.