Australia triumph despite early hiccups

Feb 22, 2008

Chaminda Vaas struck in the fifth over ...•Getty Images

Australia had crawled to 39 in 15 overs when they lost their second wicket•Getty Images

... where Kumar Sangakkara ran to the stumps, caught the ball and ran out Ponting•Getty Images

... along with Michael Hussey as the two added 90 together. Hussey was unbeaten on 64 as Australia totalled 184 in their 50 overs•Getty Images

... before Nathan Bracken dismissed him for 27. Sri Lanka were down to 42 for 3•Getty Images

Dark clouds loomed over the MCG•Getty Images

Australia ended up as winners by 24 runs on the D/L method. The hosts have qualified for the final with two games in hand•Getty Images

... bowling Adam Gilchrist for six•AFP

Farveez Maharoof had Matthew Hayden caught for 23•Getty Images

Maharoof was back in action in the 22nd over when he dismissed Andrew Symonds for four. Australia had lost four wickets for 54•Getty Images

Sri Lanka began their chase poorly. Stuart Clark dismissed the openers with only three runs on the board•Getty Images

It was to become 64 for 4, when Kumar Sangakkara, who had hung around for 58 deliveries to score 22, attempted a pull ...•Getty Images

Sri Lanka were at 77 for 4 from 29.3 overs when rain intervened•Getty Images

Two overs later, Ricky Ponting was run out when he tried running an unnecessary single. Maharoof dived, picked up the ball, and threw it towards the batsman's end ...•Getty Images

Michael Clarke led a revival ...•Getty Images

Mahela Jayawardene led a brief recovery with Kumar Sangakkara ...•Getty Images

... that ended up in the hands of Andrew Symonds at cover•Getty Images

Sri Lanka's supporters were out in full force, but the rain didn't let up•Getty Images