Australia recorded a 64-run win over a resilient Sri Lanka team at the Sydney Cricket Ground in their thrilling Pool A World Cup tie on Sunday, thanks to Glenn Maxwell's splendid ton and all-rounder James Faulkner's bowling antics.
The match saw Sri Lankan middle-order batsman Dinesh Chandimal getting retired hurt after hitting a half-ton, and he could have taken the score for Angelo Mathews' side further had he not been sent back to the pavilion due to a reported hamstring injury.
Opting to bat first, Australia recovered from a shaky start to put up a daunting total of 376-9 in their allotted 50 overs, thanks to Maxwell's 53-ball 102, which included ten fours and four sixes.
Steven Smith played a brilliant 134-run third wicket partnership with skipper Michael Clarke to provide the solid foundation for Australia's grand total, before Maxwell combined with veteran all-rounder Shane Watson for a 160-run fifth wicket partnership.
Smith hit 72 runs off 88 deliveries, while Clarke knocked 68 off 68 and Watson fired 67 runs off 47 deliveries to help Australia put up the daunting target for Sri Lanka.
Lasith Malinga and Thisara Perera grabbed two wickets each for Sri Lanka, while skipper Angelo Mathews, Seekkuge Prasanna and Tillakaratne Dilshan took one each.
Sri Lanka started their run-chase impressively after they lost their opener Lahiru Thirimanne on his individual score of one run. Dilshan then partnered with Kumar Sangakkara for a 130-run second wicket stand to.
Dilshan scored 62 runs before being trapped LBW by Faulkner, who claimed two more wickets. He hit six consecutive boundaries in an over by Australian pace spearhead Mitchell Johnson to upset the paceman's spell.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Sangakkara knocked a magnificent 104 runs off 107 deliveries, which saw him crossing 14,000-run milestone in ODIs and also become the first batsman to score three-consecutive tons during a World Cup.
However, Dilshan's antics with the bat and Sangakkara's milestone achievement couldn't help Sri Lanka beat Australia, although their lower-order did near the required run-rate many times in the match.
Skipper Mathews also scored 35 runs before he fell prey to all-rounder Watson's delivery, while Chandima was retired hurt on 52.
The Australian bowlers then wrapped up Sri Lanka's batsmen to bundle them out for 312 in 46.2 overs.
Maxwell was named the Man of the Match for his brilliant batting display.
