Mahela Jayawardene scored a classy half-century to fire Sri Lanka to a thrilling win over Australia in the ninth match of the CB Series in Hobart on Friday.
Chasing 281 to win, Sri Lanka scored 283 in 49. 2 overs to register a three wicket win.
Sri Lanka got off to a solid start with skipper Jayawardene leading the chase as the visitors scored 68 runs with fall of one wicket in the first 10 overs.
Australia managed to stem the flow of runs for a while with an important wicket of Kumar Sangakkara.
Jayawardene then continued the assault along with Dinesh Chandimal as the duo put on 63-partnership for the third wicket.
The Sri Lankan skipper fell 15 short of a well deserved century but Chandimal and Lahiru Thirimanne continued the good work of Jayawardene with a fine partnership of 49 runs.
As the match headed to the wire, Sri Lanka seemed to lose their way with as Australia struck quick blows.
With 17 required of 12 balls Thisara Perera and Nuwan Kulasekara kept their nerves to guide Sri Lanka home with four balls to spare
Earlier, riding on a maiden century by Peter Forrest, Australia posted a mammoth 280.
The newcomer, slotting comfortably into deposed Ricky Ponting’s number three batting spot, hit 104 off 138 balls to steer Australia to an imposing total.
Brief Scores : Australia 280 for 6 in 50 overs (Peter Forrest 104, Michael Clarke 72, David Hussey 40; Angelo Mathews 2 for 43, Farveez Maharoof 1 for 40, Rangana Herath 1 for 45) lost to Sri Lanka 283 for 7 in 49.2 overs (Mahela Jayawardene 85, Dinesh Chandimal 80, Angelo Mathews 24; Dan Christian 3 for 53, Ben Hilfenhaus 2 for 51) by 3 wickets
Man of the Match : Mahela Jayawardene
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