Gilchrist sets up victory

Adam Gilchrist lets out a cry after completing his ton at the WACA in Perth © Getty Images

Adam Gilchrist celebrated a century on his farewell appearance at the WACA as Australia beat Sri Lanka to go top of the Commonwealth Bank Series table.

The big-hitting wicketkeeper cracked 118 on his home ground as the Australians made 236 in 49.4 overs and then bowled out Sri Lanka for just 173

Gilchrist, who is set to retire from international cricket after the series, smacked nine fours and three sixes from his 132-ball knock, but the hosts’ total had looked achievable on a decent pitch with a quick outfield.

Kumar Sangakkara took the fight to Australia, but the wicketkeeper was offered precious little support from his team-mates to finish on 80 as the game drifted away from Sri Lanka.

The visitors started their run chase in a hurry and Brett Lee went for 16 from the first over, openers Tillakaratne Dilshan and Sanath Jayasuriya both hitting boundaries.

But Jayasuriya was soon sent packing by Nathan Bracken for a rapid 12, James Hopes taking the catch at third man, and Mitchell Johnson, brought into the attack in place of Lee, removed Dishan’s middle stump in his first over for 11.

The partnership of Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene looked ominous for Australia as the pair sprayed the ball to all corners of the ground with a steady flow of fours to keep the run-rate well above a run a ball.

Lasith Malinga finishes with four wickets © Getty Images

Johnson though struck again with a late-swinging delivery held by Ponting in the slips to dismiss Jayawardene for 21.

Andrew Symonds, diving low to his left, then took a stunning one-handed catch - with the ball barely off the ground - to get rid of Chamara Silva for a duck off the bowling of Bracken.

Sangakkara’s scoring slowed dramatically after those two wickets and his partnership with Chamara Kapugedara produced just two fours, both from the new batsman.

It was not until the 32nd over that the wicketkeeper brought up his 50 from 80 balls to move the tourists on to 129 for four.

Kapugedara was caught next ball by Michael Hussey off James Hopes for 26 and Brad Hogg did for Farveez Maharoof and Chaminda Vaas for a golden duck in the space of two balls.

Nuwan Kulasekara then lobbed a Bracken delivery into Symonds’ hands and Johnson shattered Malinga’s stumps for five. Lee rounded off the win by bowling Sangakkara.

Earlier, Lasith Malinga had been the pick of the Sri Lankan bowlers with figures of 4-47.

The paceman struck first to dismiss Matthew Hayden for just four, while Ponting was next to fall for a quickfire 25, caught by Jayawardene off the bowling of Vaas.

Opener Gilchrist proved more difficult to remove and raced into the nineties before Michael Clarke went for a pedestrian 43 - Muttiah Muralitharan fooling him with a doosra and Sangakkara whipping off the bails.

The left-hander was stuck in the nineties for some time and his pursuit for his ton seemed to slow the Aussies down as first Clarke and then Symonds looked to give him the strike and the chance of glory.

Kumar Sangakkara hits out in his innings © Getty Images

Gilchrist edged slowly closer to three figures with a succession of singles and finally reached the landmark after Symonds had edged a Maharoof delivery to wicketkeeper Sangakkara for four to move Australia on to 180 for four.

The wicketkeeper was dropped by Kapugedara off Muralitharan on 116, but the fielder made amends the following over as he held on when the batsman got a leading edge trying to hit a Malinga delivery down the ground.

Hussey survived a stumping appeal and a woeful drop from substitute fielder Upul Tharanga before he went for 25, caught by Jayawardene off Kulasekara.

The bowler had struck earlier to dismiss Hopes for two, while Brad Hogg was clean bowled by Malinga for five shortly after.

In the closing stages, Johnson was run out for a duck after a fine direct hit on the stumps from Dilshan and Lee was the last man out for two, the victim of a Malinga yorker.

Gilchrist admitted that the pressure of playing on his home ground dis affect him, saying: “I did feel it (the pressure) in the lead up to the game. I am just glad this one is done with now.

“I knew it was going to be emotional at this ground. Today was a very nervous day. I was very emotional coming into the ground.”

Gilchrist paid tribute to his partners as he reached three figures with a succession of singles, having stuttered while in the 90s.

Clarke was at the other end for the majority of his innings, while Hussey was out in the middle to celebrate it with him.

“They were very focused on that 100, probably more so than me,” he added.