Australia v Sri Lanka

At Sydney, January 9, 2003 (day/night). Sri Lanka won by 79 runs. Sri Lanka 6 pts. Toss: Australia.

Just two days after being bowled out for 65 by Australia A, Sri Lanka produced the performance of the competition. They were inspired by Jayasuriya, who swatted an 87-ball century to lift his side's tour out of mediocrity and inject interest into a triangular series which, before the Christmas break, had been a two-horse race. This was the Jayasuriya of old, riding his luck to provide grand entertainment. In contrast to his bluster was an authoritative century from Atapattu, the more temperate half of a partnership of 237 - Sri Lanka's all-wicket best in one-day internationals.

Together, they scored seven an over against an attack depleted by injuries, and Sri Lanka eventually reached 343, the highest one-day total ever conceded by Australia. Jayasuriya the spinner then took over and ended with Murali-like figures of four for 39. Muralitharan himself, returning from a hernia operation,took two. Australia, just beaten by England in the final Test on the same ground, would have lost even more heavily but for a record stand of their own - 63 by the last pair, Watson and Bichel.

Man of the Match: S. T. Jayasuriya.