Australia clinched the five-match series in Colombo after a spectacular batting collapse by Sri Lanka

The Wisden Bulletin by Charlie Austin27-Feb-2004 Australia 233 (Ponting 67, Symonds 53) beat Sri Lanka 193 (Sangakkara 101, Kasprowicz 5-45) by 40 runs, and lead series 3-1
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Kumar Sangakkara’s third one-day century wasn’t enough to prevent Australia taking the series

On a day of spectacular batting collapses, Australia clinched the five-match series with a 40-run victory. Sri Lanka, set 234, were well set for a famous win, as Kumar Sangakkara scored a magnificent century. However, they suffered a late-innings meltdown, losing their last eight wickets for only 50 runs as Michael Kasprowicz grabbed a career-best five wicket haul.After Sri Lanka had bowled Australia out for 233, they made the worst possible start as Sanath Jayasuriya prodded tentatively for the second consecutive innings at a rising delivery from Kasprowicz (0 for 1). But Marvan Atapattu – fortunate to have not been dismissed earlier when the ball trickled back onto his stumps – and Sangakkara consolidated against some tight bowling from both Kasprowicz and Jason Gillespie.The run rate started to climb before Sangakkara cut loose with a thrilling assault against Kasprowicz and Ian Harvey. Both bowlers were flayed for three boundaries in an over, and Sangakkara, particularly strong through the off side, sped to his 11th one-day half-century from just 45 balls.Ricky Ponting was forced to call up his slow bowlers, Andrew Symonds and Brad Hogg. Atapattu, stuck on 18 for seven overs as Sangakkara hogged the strike, tried to break free with a lofted straight-drive, but miscued and was caught by Michael Bevan at long-on (78 for 2).But the loss of his captain did not deter Sangakkara from his thrillingly aggressive approach, and he continued to attack the slow bowlers. Mahela Jayawardene settled quickly and the pair ticked along at a run a ball, slowly pushing the required rate down and creating another headache for Ponting.After 30 overs, Sri Lanka were well placed at 135 for 2, and Ponting turned back to Gillespie, his senior paceman, in search of a breakthrough – and it did the trick. In Gillespie’s second over back, Jayawardene tried to run a short one through the slips, but only edged it to Adam Gilchrist (143 for 3).Sangakkara brought up his third century from 106 balls – without doubt his finest one-day innings – but the celebrations were short-lived, as he chased a wide one from Kasprowicz and was caught behind (148 for 4).Sri Lanka went into freefall: Saman Jayantha, making his debut, followed Sangakkara four balls later as Gilchrist took his fourth catch of the innings, off Harvey. Tillakaratne Dilshan then called for a suicidal run to Ponting at midwicket and was run out by a distance (158 for 6).Upul Chandana and Kaushal Lokuarachchi briefly raised local hopes, adding 31 in 38 balls, but Kasprowicz moved in for the kill to earn Australia their first one-day series victory in Sri Lanka.Gilchrist, meanwhile, put a dreadful week with the bat behind him as he claimed six catches in the innings, equalling the world record that he shares with Ridley Jacobs and Alec Stewart.

Muralitharan: back to his best

It was a remarkable turnaround from the Australians, who looked to be dead and buried once Sangakkara was in full flow, and after they had been bowled out for a modest 233.Ponting paid tribute to his players afterwards: “It was fantastic win. We were behind the eight-ball in the the field but I told my players before we went out that the team that hung in there the longest would win. Chasing a reasonable score, no matter how well you are going, you only need to lose one wicket.”Earlier, the Sri Lankan bowlers immediately gained the ascendancy after a brisk Australian start, taking the wickets of Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden and Damien Martyn to leave Australia precariously placed at 62 for 3 in the 13th over.But Ponting was once again in sizzling form, swivel-pulling two magnificent sixes off Vaas early on, and racing to his fourth consecutive fifty of the series. He and Symonds repaired the early damage, milking the spinners for 74 in 90 deliveries. But just when it looked as if Muttiah Muralitharan would go wicketless for the third game running, Ponting went back to a fizzing offbreak and was pinned in front (136 for 4).Symonds, passing fifty for the first time in this series after a series of undefeated cameos, pressed on with Bevan, and they added 41 in 52 balls before Murali returned for a second spell. Symonds immediately slog-swept him straight into the hands of Jayantha at midwicket (177 for 5).Australia, though, were still in a good position as Bevan added 24 in 25 balls with Clarke. But when Bevan (14) chipped a return catch to Murali off a leading edge, the innings declined rapidly, as four wickets tumbled for five runs. Harvey was run out by Atapattu at point, Hogg was trapped lbw first ball, and Kasprowicz edged behind for a duck (206 for 9).Clarke, with 36 from 32 balls, and Gillespie stemmed the tide, adding 27 for the last wicket. It was a job well done by Sri Lanka – but they couldn’t finish the job.