Lasith Malinga’s hat-trick guide Sri Lanka win

Sri Lanka 213 for 6 (Jayawardene 71, Silva 63) strike Australia 211 (Watson 56, Malinga 3-35, A Mendis 3-49) by 4 wickets

Lasith Malinga’s
Lasith Malinga's hat-trick and half-centuries from Mahela Jayawardene and Chamara Silva motorized Sri Lanka to a comfort four-wicket win over Australia.

The tourists, who held an unquestionable 3-1 lead going into Monday's final match, were dismiss for 211 with approximately four overs to spare.

Shane Watson made 56, Michael Clarke 47 and David Hussey 46, and Ajantha Mendis took three wickets, but it was Malinga who wrap the attention as his trademark yorkers ripped out Mitchell Johnson, John Hastings and Xavier Doherty in consecutive balls.

And the hosts improved from 33 for three to come out victorious, thanks largely to a stand of 111 between Jayawardene and Silva.

Having been put in to bat, Australia lost Shaun Marsh, bowled playing across the line at Shaminda Eranga, to go away them four for one from two overs.

But Watson put on 67 with Ricky Ponting before the latter fell for 31 after failing to pick Angelo Mathews' off-cutter.

Watson's half-century inwards from 64 balls, with six fours and a six, en way to another 50 partnership with captain Clarke but he fell shortly afterwards, heaving Mendis to deep mid-wicket.

Michael Hussey made just six but Brother David fared better, though he lost Clarke when the skipper edge Eranga to keeper Kumar Sangakkara.

David Hussey under enemy control a stand of 43 with keeper Brad Haddin before also absent out on fifty when he was bowled by Mendis. His 49-ball innings included five fours and a six, and his exit left his side 210 for five.

The real entertainment was still to come, although, as Malinga spear a full delivery into new man Mitchell Johnson's leg stump and follow up by pinning Hastings lbw on the crease, a decision uphold after an Australian review.

Doherty had no chance next to the hat-trick delivery, which not working into the base of middle stump to earn Malinga a unique achievement, following previous hat-tricks against South Africa in the 2007 World Cup - when he took four wickets in succeeding balls - and Kenya in this year's event.

Haddin then chip Mendis to mid-off, meaning Australia had lost their last five batsmen for one run in 11 balls.

The clatter of wickets sustained as Upul Tharanga last just four balls of Sri Lanka's reply before edging Johnson to Haddin.

James Pattinson then detached Sangakkara and Tillakaratne Dilshan, the latter making 17 from 16 balls before being bowled via bat and pad.

But the patient Jayawardene was connected by Silva, who survived an lbw review against Watson but contribute 30 to his senior partner's 10 by the time their stand reach fifty in the 13th over.

Silva reach a 51-ball half-century feature seven fours and a six but fell shortly afterwards for 63 after a top-edged sweep at Doherty was wedged by Hastings.

A rain delay of just over half an hour follow but failed to disturb Jayawardene, who pressed on persistently in the company of an equally restrained Mathews.

Jayawardene's fifty came from 86 balls with only three boundaries but there followed a string of narrow escape, with an inside edge past the stumps and a run-out chance failed by Doherty.

He fell for 73 after trying to loft Doherty over long-off, a shot he had played more effectively earlier in the over.

Mathews (26) drove Watson to Doherty with only three desired but Jeevan Mendis edged the charming boundary wide of slip.

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