Australia were headed for an exit as they were struggling at 172 for eight after 27 overs in their do-or-die ICC Champions Trophy match against Sri Lanka here today.
Sent into bat, Sri Lanka rode on Mahela Jayawardene's unbeaten 81-ball 84 to post 253 for eight, leaving the defending champions with a Herculean task of chasing down the target in 29.1 overs to ensure a semifinal berth from group A alongside England.
Adam Voges and Clint McKay were batting on 37 and one respectively.
Australia needed another 82 runs from 23 overs to bow out of the tournament on a positive note.
Shane Watson started Australia's innings with a delightful boundary through covers but that was all he could do as the all-rounder was bowled by Nuwan Kulasekara.
Phillip Hughes lasted barely 10 balls as he too was shown the door by Kulasekara who bowled a back of length ball that pitched outside off before inducing a thick edge.
Glenn Maxwell blazed away to 32 off just 20 balls before being cleaned up by pace spearhead Lasith Malinga. Maxwell smashed five fours and a six during his breezy knock.
More trouble was in store for Australia as they lost George Bailey thanks to a fine piece of fielding from Kulasekara whose flat throw from short fine leg caught the skipper well short of the crease.
Mitchell Marsh was then bowled by Angelo Mathews to make matters worse for the Aussies.
Matthew Wade was dismissed after smashing his way to 31 off just 23 balls with the help of four fours and a six.
