Rampant Aussies cruise to victory

Visitors take 2-0 lead with 8-wicket win

Ponting and skipper Mich-ael Clarke (58 not out) took the Aussies home in 38.2 overs with an unbeaten partnership of 107 for the third wicket.

Earlier, Doug Bollinger led Australia’s disciplined attack with three wickets to restrict Sri Lanka to 208.

The left-arm paceman finished with 3-35 off 10 overs to boost his team’s hopes of gaining a 2-0 lead in the five-match series, Australia having won the opening match by seven wickets.

Bollinger was superbly backed by pacemen Mitchell Johnson and Brett Lee, who bagged two wickets apiece. Former captain Kumar Sangakkara top-scored for Sri Lanka with a patient 52, hitting just one six and one four in his 85-ball knock.

He added 63 for the fifth wicket with Angelo Mathews (35). Lower-order batsman Nuwan Kulasekara helped Sri Lanka cross the 200-mark with a brisk 31-ball 34.

Sangakkara fell just when he looked like stepping up the run-rate. Australia gained the upper hand when they reduced Sri Lanka to 77-4, with Lee, Johnson, Bollinger and left-arm spinner Xavier Doherty taking one wicket each.

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