Australia End Losing Run By Thrashing Sri Lanka

Australia End Losing Run By Thrashing Sri Lanka

Michael Clarke led Australia to victory with a brisk unbeaten 50 after his bowlers had dismissed Sri Lanka for a meagre 115

©REUTERS/Jason O'Brien (AUSTRALIA - Tags: SPORT CRICKET) Picture Supplied by Action Images

Australia 119-2 (Clarke 50no) beat
Sri Lanka 115 (McKay 5-33, Starc 4-27) by eight wickets
Third One-Day International, Brisbane
Scorecard

Australia ended their run of losses with a crushing eight-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the third and final One-Day International in Brisbane.

Having not won an international game since July, they dismantled the tourists by dismissing them for 115 and then cruising to victory in 21.4 overs.

Sri Lanka, however, won the series 2-1 following victories chasing in the first two matches in Melbourne and Sydney.

Only two of their players - Upul Tharanga (28) and Chamara Silva (33) reached double figurees as their batting line-up was ripped apart by pacers Clint McKay and Mitchell Starc.

McKay returned five for 33 and Starc four for 27 with Shane Watson the only other bowler to take a wicket as the Sri Lankans were dismissed in just 32 overs.

Watson (15) and Brad Haddin (31) then fell as Australia batted positively in reply and an unbeaten 50 in 51 balls from stand-in captain Michael Clarke eased them home with plenty of time to spare.

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