Australia take final place

Australia's Michael Clarke collects runs © Getty Images

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Australia confirmed their place in the finals of the Commonwealth Bank Series after they recorded a 24-run Duckworth-Lewis victory against Sri Lanka at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

The Sri Lankans, who must now win their final two games of the competition to stand any chance of joining the Australians in the best-of-three finals series, had looked on course to claim a rare victory against the Australians when they restricted the hosts to 184 for seven.

Half centuries from middle-order batsmen Michael Hussey (64 not out) and Michael Clarke (50) helped Australia to build a competitive target in difficult batting conditions after their top order had faltered.

However, in reply the tourists struggled to keep up with the modest run rate on the slow MCG pitch, and despite hope the players might re-appear after they were forced from the field in the 30th over with Sri Lanka on 77 for four, the rain persisted before play was called off.

Sri Lanka had lost eight of their previous nine one-day internationals against Australia, including last year’s World Cup final, and their hopes of chasing down the target were immediately undermined by paceman Stuart Clark who struck twice to leave them at three for two.

Clark’s first act was to dismiss the dangerous Sanath Jayasuriya for a first-ball duck in just the second over. The veteran left-hander waved a loose drive at a delivery that left him marginally to present Ricky Ponting with a simple catch at second slip.

Clark struck again in his next over when he trapped opener Dilruwan Perera (one) on the crease and things could have got worse for the tourists when Andrew Symonds flung himself acrobatically at a Kumar Sangakkara cover drive, but could only get fingertips to the difficult chance.

Sangakkara and captain Mahela Jayawardene then set about reconstructing the Sri Lankan innings in painstaking fashion as they reached the 15-over mark with just 33 runs on the board.

Seamer Stuart Clark appeals for lbw against Dilruwan Perera © Getty Images

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However, two overs later Jayawardene’s caution proved to be his downfall as he half-heartedly attempted to run a Nathan Bracken delivery through the vacant slip area only to get a faint edge to Adam Gilchrist while on 27.

The Sri Lankan captain left the field admonishing himself and the Australian sensed their opportunity to press home their advantage with the forecast rain threatening to fall and the Sri Lankans falling behind in the Duckworth-Lewis calculations.

Sangakkara sought invention to break the shackles but he was dismissed attempting a leg-side flick that ballooned up off a leading edge to Symonds, who this time made no mistake in pouching the easy chance, to end the wicketkeeper-batsman’s innings of 22 from 59 balls.

Gilchrist then missed a chance to stump Tillakaratne Dilshan off the bowling of fellow Western Australian Brad Hogg, but soon after the rain fell to end the tourists hopes.

Earlier, Hussey’s 12th one-day international half-century, which also saw him reach 2000 limited overs runs, coupled with a composed knock from captain-in-waiting Clarke helped the Australians recover from 54 for four in the 22nd over.

After Adam Gilchrist (six) was bowled by Chaminda Vaas attempting a cross-bat slog, Farveez Maharoof had Matthew Hayden (23) caught at short extra cover before displaying his athleticism to run out Ponting (11).

The Australia captain, who had earlier been given a reprieve when Dilshan spilled a chance at gully, set off for a single when he pushed the ball back down the ground.

However Maharoof dove to his right and threw the ball to Sangakkara who whipped off the bails with Ponting well out of his ground.

Australia brought up the 50 in 120 balls before Andrew Symonds (four) got an inside edge to a delivery from Maharoof which was easily taken by Sangakkara, and despite Symonds standing his ground, the hosts were 54 for four.

That brought Clarke and Hussey together and the pair reached a crucial 50-run partnership off 91 balls before Clarke reached his half century off 68 balls.

His stand ended there as Muttiah Muralitharan took a swift return catch at the second attempt before Hussey brought up an 82-ball half-century.

Maharoof finished with figures of 2-20 off 10 overs, while Muralitharan also picked up two wickets from his 10 overs, which cost 37 runs.