Friday wasn't the greatest one for forecasts. Happily, the predicted rains stayed away, though thick clouds hung ominously overhead; unfortunately, the expected Sri Lankan charge never transpired at the Sydney Cricket Ground as the triangular series finally ended its string of wash-outs.

In a performance more clinical than awe-inspiring, Australia cut Mahela Jayawardene's men to size in front of 25,000 spectators thankful that the elements hadn't intervened. On a slowish track not ideal for the stroke-production the limited-overs game thrives on, Australia made the most of Ricky Ponting's luck with the coin to post a competitive total. Nathan Bracken's intelligent variations in pace and Sri Lanka's generous gifts by way of loose strokes enabled them to complete a comprehensive 128-run victory and pick up the full complement of five points, inclusive of a bonus point.

Once the industriousness of Michael Clarke and the adapatability of Adam Gilchrist had combined to ensure that Australia didn't fritter away the hectic start provided by Matthew Hayden, Sri Lanka needed a Herculean effort to overhaul the hosts' 253 for six, by no means insurmountable but calling for great application. In the event, the Lankan innings never hit its straps as wickets tumbled in a rush right from the beginning, the visitors rolled over for a measly 125 with nearly 19 overs remaining.

Flattering figures
Bracken won the man of the match award for figures of five for 47, perhaps a touch flattering but no less deserved as he brought his familiarity with the SCG surface into play.

Early swing gave way to cutters and clever variations in pace as the left-armer tied the Lankans up in knots, no batsman showing any stomach for battle barring Kumar Sangakkara, who put on a spectacular exhibition of batsmanship that went completely unsupported.

Sri Lanka needed Sanath Jayasuriya in particular to fire as they eyed the early momentum that the middle-order could feed off. Instead, the veteran opener was the first to go, dragging Brett Lee on after being beaten for pace as he shaped to take his bat away. When Upul Tharanga fell next ball, it was up to the old firm of Sangakkara and Jayawardene.

Even as the deputy showed awesome touch  — he crashed Lee for four fours in an over, and produced the stroke of the game with a brilliant punch square on the up off the back foot off James Hopes — skipper Jayawardene found Mitchell Johnson's left-arm over an uncrackable riddle. His patience eventually ran out as he charged the paceman and nicked to Gilchrist. Bracken then took over, trapping Sangakkara in front with a sharp break-backer and running through the lower middle-order with clever, subtle changes in pace.

Accuracy
In many ways, Bracken's evening spell was similar to Chaminda Vaas' 10-over burst in the afternoon. Like Bracken, Vaas too isn't express; his greatest weapon, apart from accuracy, is changes of pace, and he used it to exceptional effect to cash in on the slowness of the track, redeeming himself after a poor Tuesday at the Gabba with tidy figures of two for 34.

This, after Australia had got off to a frenetic start. For once, Gilchrist was largely the passive bystander as Hayden went on the rampage, aided by the odd slice of luck in totally dominating the first-wicket stand of 65 (77b). With Ponting falling cheaply, Gilchrist was forced to keep his natural attacking instincts in check and rely on working the ball around on an outfield that didn't always provide value for shots.

Clarke began busily enough, but he too put the big shots away in deference to the demands of the track. Hectic running and clever placements were the order of the day, especially as the Lankans struck at regular intervals to make sure Australia didn't run away with the game. Clarke and Gilchrist pieced together 51 (71b), negating the threat of Muttiah Muralitharan's off-spin with soft hands and swift feet. But with Andrew Symonds and Mike Hussey contributing little, Sri Lanka had reason to believe they could restrict Australia to a modest total.

Real tap
They hadn't, obviously, reckoned with Hopes, the tall all-rounder who can give the ball real tap. Comfortably outscoring Clarke in the 63-run (48b) sixth-wicket association, Hopes provided the final flourish as the Lankans again floundered in the last ten overs. The main culprit this time was the inexperienced Ishara Amerasinghe. Unlike the Gabba when the last ten yielded 105, it was only 75 this time, but the damage was more pronounced once the rains didn't show up.

AUSTRALIA
Gilchrist lbw Kapugedera 61
(81b, 3x4, 1x6)
Hayden c J’rdene b A’singhe 42
(50b, 5x4)
Ponting c Jayawardene b Vaas 9
(22b, 1x4)
Clarke (not out) 77
(86b, 2x4, 1x6)
Symonds c Kapugedera b Vaas 12
(17b)
Hussey c Dilshan b A’singhe 10
(13b, 1x4)
Hopes c Dilshan b Malinga 34
(29b, 2x4)
Lee (not out) 0
(2b)
Extras (LB-2, W-6) 8

Total (for 6 wkts, 50 overs) 253
Fall of wickets: 1-65 (Hayden), 2-88 (Ponting), 3-139 (Gilchrist), 4-160 (Symonds), 5-190 (Hussey), 6-253 (Hopes).

Bowling: Vaas 10-1-34-2, Lasith Malinga 10-0-55-1 (w-5), Amerasinghe 10-0-66-2 (w-1), Muralitharan 10-0-42-0, Kapugedera 10-0-54-1.

Scoring pattern: 5 overs: 24/0; 10: 48/0; 15: 69/1; 20: 88/2; 25: 111/2; 30: 136/2; 35: 152/3; 40: 178/4; 45: 209/5; end of innings: 253/6 in 50 overs.

Runs during: Power Play 1: 1-10 overs: 48/0; Power Play 2: 11-15 overs: 21/1; Power Play 3 (three men out): 16-20: 19/1.

SRI LANKA
Tharanga c Gilchrist b Bracken 10
(18b, 1x4)
Jayasuriya b Lee 7
(13b, 1x4)
Sangakkara lbw Bracken 42
(41b, 7x4)
Ja’wardene c Gilchrist b Johnson 6
(16b)
Silva c Gilchrist b Hogg 7
(32b)
Dilshan c Lee b Bracken 14
(10b, 1x6)
Kapugedera c Hayden b Bracken 0
(2b)
Vaas (run out) 18
(30b, 3x4)
Malinga (run out) 2
(10b)
M’litharan c Symonds b Bracken 11
(14b, 1x6)
Amerasinghe (not out) 0
(4b)
Extras (LB-3, W-4, NB-1) 8

Total (all out, 31.3 overs) 125
Fall of wickets: 1-18 (Tharanga), 2-18 (Jayasuriya), 3-57 (Jayawardene), 4-74 (Sangakkara), 5-81 (Silva), 6-84 (Kapugedera), 7-93 (Dilshan), 8-105 (Malinga), 9-114 (Vaas).

Bowling: Lee 7-1-34-1 (w-1, nb-1), Bracken 8.3-0-47-5 (w-1), Johnson 5-3-9-1 (w-1), Hopes 5-0-15-0, Hogg 6-1-17-1 (w-1).

Scoring pattern: 5 overs: 18/1; 10: 51/2; 15: 67/3; 20: 77/4; 25: 96/7; 30: 116/9; end of innings: 125 all out in 31.3 overs.

Runs during: Power Play 1: 1-10 overs: 51/2; Power Play 2: 11-15 overs: 16/1; Power Play 3 (three men out): 16-20 overs: 10/1.