When Sanga took on Australia

Adam Gilchrist provided the fireworks but Sri Lanka's seamers had the extinguisher at the MCG, where Australia's blistering start of 0 for 107 in the 15th somehow turned into their first loss in nearly three weeks

Australia will treat Friday's dead-rubber against Sri Lanka as their first final ahead of the best-of-three CB Series deciders with India starting on Sunday

The slow MCG pitch was causing just as many problems for Sri Lanka as Australia and at the halfway mark of a small chase the visitors had staggered to 4 for 65

"The pitch was really slow, very hard to get your timing and to penetrate the field," Michael Hussey, named Man of the Match for an unbeaten 64, said

Sri Lanka's match against Australia at the MCG on Friday is not technically a must-win game for the visitors but Mahela Jayawardene knows another defeat could be as good as fatal to their CB Series

Two months into his Australian holiday, Yuvraj Singh finally showed up for work with a blistering 76 that set up India's chase before Mahendra Singh Dhoni survived a tense finish to guide them to a two-wicket win

The Appu Army, the latest addition to the existing bunch that includes the Barmy Army (England), Wave the Flag (Australia) and Bharat Army (India), were here to follow their side closely

Sri Lanka's first win of any significance on this tour couldn't have come at a better moment: it will lift the morale of a side that was seemed to be on the slide with one resounding defeat after another

A 21-over match should have suited the reigning world Twenty20 champions India, but a revised-down total and some blistering early strikes from Sanath Jayasuriya lifted Sri Lanka to their first win of the CB Series