March 2, 2012
Scorecard: Sri Lanka 238 (Chandimal 75, Sangakkara 64, Thirimanne 51, Christian 5-31, Pattinson 4-51) beat Australia 229 (D Hussey 74, Watson 65, Malinga 4-49) by nine runs
Sri Lanka beat Australia by nine runs despite Dan Christian's hat-trick in a dramatic one-day international on Friday to book their place in the final of the Commonwelath Bank Tri-series against the hosts and send India home.
March 2, 2012
Scorecard: Sri Lanka 238 (Chandimal 75, Sangakkara 64, Thirimanne 51, Christian 5-31, Pattinson 4-51) beat Australia 229 (D Hussey 74, Watson 65, Malinga 4-49) by nine runs
Sri Lanka beat Australia by nine runs despite Dan Christian's hat-trick in a dramatic one-day international on Friday to book their place in the final of the Commonwelath Bank Tri-series against the hosts and send India home.
India needed their sub-continental rivals to lose the last round-robin clash to keep their tour alive but Sri Lanka made 238 all out from their 50 overs before dismissing Australia, who had already secured their place in the final, for 229.
However, Watson, who was looking well set on 65, then had his stumps shattered by a brilliant yorker from Malinga (4-49). Sri Lanka sensed their chance and, cheered on by the majority of fans in the 30,000 crowd at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, seized it. While David Hussey – who hit his fifth half century of the series – was around the result was still in doubt but when he sent the first ball of the final over towards the safe hands of Tillakaratne Dilshan at long off, Sri Lanka were off to Adelaide for Sunday's first match of the final.