AUSTRALIA have taken an unbeatable 3-1 lead in their one-day series against Sri Lanka after a convincing five-wicket victory in Colombo.
Inspired by four-wicket hauls from both Xavier Doherty and Brett Lee, Australia rolled the hosts for just 132 and easily reached the victory target for the loss of five wickets and with 22 overs to spare. Lee and Doug Bollinger (1-28 off seven) got Australia’s day off to a fine start by dismissing openers Tillakaratne Dilshan (12) and Upul Tharanga (8) inside the first 10 overs.
But a solid 71-run stand from Kumar Sangakkara (31) and Mahela Jayawardene (53) appeared to settle the home side, before Doherty sparked a remarkable collapse by the home team.
The Tasmanian spinner picked up the wickets of Sangakkara and Chamara Silva (0) in the 26th over, eventually grabbing career-best ODI figures of 4-26 off 10 overs.
When Lee, 4-15 off 6.4 overs, cleaned up the tail and ended the innings Sri Lanka had lost their final eight batsmen for just 37 runs.
Fast bowler Lasith Malinga (2-18 off seven) gave the home team some hope by removing Shane Watson (12) and Ricky Ponting (0) in the same over but Shaun Marsh’s well-made 70 and Michael Clarke’s 38 n.o. steadied the ship with a 97-run stand for the third wicket.
Sri Lanka leg-spinner Seekkuge Prasanna (3-32 off six) provided some late joy for the home fans by claiming three wickets in four balls, dismissing Marsh and then Michael and David Hussey (both 0).
But that mini-collapse came too late to cause any real concerns for Australia who coasted to victory in the next over.
The series concludes with a fifth and final match at the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo tomorrow.
A three-Test series begins in Galle on August 31.

SRI LANKA innings
U. Tharanga b Lee    8
T. Dilshan c Haddin b Bollinger    12
K. Sangakkara c Lee b Doherty    31
M. Jayawardene c&b Lee    53
C. Silva lbw b Doherty    0
A. Mathews stp. Haddin b Doherty    6
N. Kulasekara lbw b Watson    7
S. Eranga c Bollinger b Lee    1
S. Prasanna lbw b Doherty    0
L. Malinga b Lee    0
A. Mendis not out    0
Extras: (lb-10, w-4)    14
Total: (all out, 38.4 overs)    132
Fall of wickets: 1-20, 2-24, 3-95, 4-95, 5-101, 6-118, 7-128, 8-132, 9-132.
Bowling: Lee 6.4-1-15-4, Bollinger 7-0-28-1 (w-1), Johnson 8-0-31-0 (w-1), Watson 7-0-20-1, Doherty 10-0-28-4 (w-2).
AUSTRALIA innings
S. Watson c Mendis b Malinga    12
S. Marsh c Sangakkara b Prasanna    70
R. Ponting c Prasanna b Malinga    0
M. Clarke not out    38
M. Hussey c Sangakkara b Prasanna    0
D. Hussey b Prasanna    0
B. Haddin not out    5
Extras: (lb-6, w-2)    8
Total: (for five wickets, 28 overs)    133
Fall of wickets: 1-26, 2-26, 3-123, 4-123, 5-123.
Bowling: Malinga 7-2-18-2, Mendis 7-0-31-0 (w-1), Dilshan 2-0-17-0, Kulasekara 2-0-13-0, Eranga 4-0-16-0 (w-1), Prasanna 6-1-32-3.