Jayasuriya heroics breathe fresh life into VB Series

A blazing hundred and canny spin bowling from captain Sanath Jayasuriya led Sri Lanka to a shock win against Australia at the SCG on Thursday night, breathing fresh life into a triangular series that had appeared a two-horse race just hours before.

Just two days after they were skittled for a mere 65 against Australia A, with confidence at its lowest ebb since the 1999 World Cup, the visitors scored 343 for five, the highest ever score against Australia, after centuries from Jayasuriya and Marvan Atapattu.

The Sri Lankan new bowlers then took early wickets before slow bowlers Jayasuriya (4-39) and Muttiah Muralitharan (2-44), playing his first international game since November 19 after undergoing hernia surgery, spun out the Australian middle order.

Sri Lanka' eventually triumphed by 79 runs, an emphatic victory that ensures them a maximum six points and gives them a fighting chance of qualifying for the VB Series finals despite losing their opening three games of the tournament.

Australia had cruised to comfortable victories in their first three games but today were forced to rely on their second string bowlers after injuries to Glenn McGrath (side strain), Jason Gillespie (elbow) and Shane Warne (shoulder).

Instead of including specialist bowlers in place of the injured trio they gambled on playing three frontline bowlers and two all-rounders as they tried to give experience to the back-up players in their World Cup squad.

The plan backfired, as did the decision to bowl first, as the Sri Lankans surprised even their most fervent fans with a rollicking batting display that saw records tumble throughout the afternoon.

After a nervy start, when Jayasuriya had been clean bowled off a Brett Lee no ball in the third over and then narrowly survived two close lbw appeals, and a dropped catch on 26 at backward point, the Sri Lankan captain launched a brutal assault.

Whilst Atapattu played in textbook fashion, occasionally stealing the limelight with a classical off-drive, Jayasuriya swiped, swatted and walloped his way past fifty and onto a 88-ball century, his first against Australia and the 14th of his career.

The pair added 237 in 33.4 overs - Sri Lanka's highest partnership in one-day cricket, beating the 226 for the third wicket by Atapattu and Mahela Jayawardene against India in Sharjah in 2001-02; the highest all-wicket ODI partnership at the SCG; the highest opening partnership compiled by any side in Australia and the third largest all-country opening stand in ODI history.

Although Jayasuriya eventually aimed one slog too many to be dismissed for 122, a 105-ball innings that included 12 fours and fours sixes, Atapattu (101 from 124 balls) and Jayawardene (37 from 38 balls) carried on the momentum to ensure that Sri Lanka scored the highest total ever against Australia.

The Australian bowling figures told a sorry tale: Watson conceded 72 runs from his ten overs, Andy Bichel's quota cost 70 and chastened wrist-spinner Hogg leaked 75 from nine overs.

Needing to break their own world record for the highest score ever chased successfully in an ODI, the 330 for seven scored against South Africa last year at Port Elizabeth, the Australians needed a lightening start.

But left-armer Chaminda Vaas knocked back Adam Gilchrist's (6) stumps third ball and Pulasthi Gunaratne soon deceived Ricky Ponting (15) with a slower ball to leave the Australians wobbling on 35 for two.

Matthew Hayden (35) and Damian Martyn (40) started to move the scoreboard but Australia were pegged back every time there looked to be a substantial partnership building.

Hayden and Martyn added 38 before lofting Dilhara Fernando's slower ball to mid-on and then a 75 run stand between Martyn and Michael Bevan was ended when Jayasuriya turned to his own slow left-arm spin.

Hobbling to the crease after being struck on the knee early on, the skipper, in partnership with Muralitharan, who claimed two for 44 from 10 overs, quickly snuffed out Aussie hopes taking four for 39 as the required run rate spiralled out of control.

In the end, Australia settled for trying to score the 275 required to pick up a bonus point, an objective they nearly achieved after a record 63 run last-wicket stand between Watson and Bichel.

Australia are still favourites to qualify first for the final, already having as they do 17 points, but England (12 points) now face a tough fight for the second berth in that three-match final with Sri Lanka (7 points).

Australia now take on England at Hobart on Saturday before a crucial game between Sri Lanka and England at Sydney on Monday.