VB Series, 2005-06

At Sydney, February 12, 2006 (day/night). Australia won by 167 runs. Toss: Australia.

Australia emphatically squared the series after Ponting and Symonds added 237 - a national record - to steer them towards 368, then their highest total in one-day cricket. It was a magnificent riposte to early Sri Lankan pressure that reduced them to ten for three. Gilchrist was caught at gully in the first over, and Katich and Martyn were defeated by Vaas's judicious line and subtle bend. Then Ponting and Symonds, who passed 150 for the second time in one-day internationals, seized the initiative with shots all round the ground. Jayawardene claimed a catch when Ponting was 57, but, contradicting his own request for players to accept the fielder's word, Ponting stood his ground. (Jayawardene later apologised after replays showed the ball had not carried.) From that point, the Sri Lankans' heads dropped and, with Clarke and Hussey smashing 48 from 17 balls at the end, Muralitharan suffered the indignity of conceding 99 - at the time the most expensive ten-over analysis in limited-overs internationals. Replying without hope of victory, the Sri Lankans were rounded up by Bracken.

Man of the Match: A. Symonds. Attendance: 37,751.