AUSTRALIA emphatically ended their seven-match losing sequence with a crushing eight-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the third one-day international at Brisbane.
With the pressure firmly on the hosts, their quicks produced a masterclass of fast bowling to dismiss Sri Lanka, who had already clinched the series, for just 115 in 32 overs.
Clint McKay was the pick of the bunch as he claimed career-best figures of five for 33 while young left-armer Mitchell Starc, in just his second game, took four for 27.
Australia’s batsmen then picked off the total in 21.4 overs, with Michael Clarke putting aside the recent criticism levelled at him with an unbeaten 50.
McKay could afford to have Upul Tharanga dropped from his second ball, Steven Smith spilling a tough chance at gully, before he removed Tillakaratne Dilshan (one) and in-form skipper Kumar Sangakkara (duck) in his next over.
McKay continued his early onslaught when Mahela Jayawardene edged to Cameron White at slip.
Tharanga (28) and Chamara Silva (33) then steadied matters briefly as they became the only Sri Lankans to reach double figures.
But Shane Watson trapped Tharanga in front before Starc grabbed his first wicket when Angelo Matthews chopped on.
Matthews had been the hero of Sri Lanka’s unlikely win in the first match in Melbourne, but without him the tail disintegrated in the face of McKay and Starc who extracted impressive bounce on a ‘Gabba wicket that will host the first Test.
The premature end to Sri Lanka’s innings meant Australia had to face 10 overs before the break, during which time they ensured the result was in no doubt as they progressed to 63 for one. Watson was the batsman to fall, caught by Matthews off Dilhara Fernando, for 15 but Brad Haddin and stand-in skipper Clarke employed aggression as they attempted a quick kill.
Haddin’s impatience cost him his wicket soon after the resumption when he returned a catch to Fernando when on 31 but Clarke, who had come under fire for his captaincy in the opening match, guided his side home alongside Michael Hussey.

SRI LANKA innings
U. Tharanga lbw Watson 28
T. Dilshan c Hussey b McKay 1
K. Sangakkara c Haddin b McKay 0
M. Jayawardene c White Mckay 0
C. Silva b Starc 33
A. Mathews b Starc 9
J. Mendis c Haddin b Starc 5
S Randiv b McKay 7
T. Perera c Smith b Mckay 3
L. Malinga c Ferguson b Starc 2
D. Fernando not out 2
Extras (lb-10, w-14, nb-1) 25
Total: (All out, 32 overs) 115
Fall of wickets: 1-8 2-8 3-14 4-50 5-81 6-92 7-95 8-103 9-112 10-115
Bowling: McKay 9-1-33-5 (nb-1, w-2), Johnson 5-0-17-0, Watson 5-0-11-1 (w-5), Starc 9-0-27-4 (w-6), Doherty 4-0-17-0 (w-1).

AUSTRALIA innings
S. Watson c Mathews b Fernando 15
B. Haddin c&b Fernando 31
M. Clarke not out 50
M. Hussey not out 6
Extras (lb-1, w-10, nb-6) 17 Total: (For two wickets, 21.4 overs) 119
Did not bat: C. White, C. Ferguson, S. Smith, M. Johnson, X. Doherty, C. McKay, M. Starc.
Fall of wickets: 1-35 2-84
Bowling: Malinga 6-0-31-0 (w-5), Fernando 8-0-47-2 (w-5, nb-6), Perera 4.4-1-19-0, Mendis 1-0-10-0, Randiv 2-0-11-0.