EASY WIN OVER LANKANS

AUSTRALIA have claimed a comfortable victory against Sri Lanka in the tri-series one-day international in Sydney, thumping the tourists by 128 runs.
Nathan Bracken was the hero for Australia, claiming career-best figures of 5-47 in a man-of-the-match dsiplay as the home side dismissed Sri Lanka for 125 in just 31.3 overs after making 6-253.
Bracken played down his efforts, saying he had had the benefit of playing for New South Wales at the SCG in recent Pura Cup, which helped him go to school in the local conditions - which suit his style of seam bowling.
Asked if his performance was his best effort for Australia, the Cricket World Cup winner said: "I think performance wise and results wise, yes."
The result saw Australia jump to the top of the table, after the first two matches of the triangular series were washed out, with seven points from a no-result and a bonus-point win from their two matches.
India are second on the ladder, with four points from two no-results, ahead of Sri Lanka, who have two points.
Australia captain Ricky Ponting said he always felt confident after his team's innings.
"I thought 250 batting first on that wicket was a pretty good total and our batsmen adapted really well," he said.
"Michael Clarke played a really sensible knock, not taking too many risks and making sure he was there at the end.
"I knew our bowlers would be able to take the pace off the ball and use the seam on the ball, and Nathan Bracken did a great job of doing that."
Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene, meanwhile, admitted that his top-order batsmen simply didn't do enough.
"We lost too many wickets up front and we are very disappointed with the performance," he said.
"We haven't been very consistent with our one-day form and we've been talking about it quite a bit.
"We thought we were getting back into it, but today was a very disappointing day.
"Against these guys you have to play A-grade cricket."
Clarke paced Australia's innings with a patient 77 not out, while retiring superstar Adam Gilchrist also battled hard on the two-paced pitch for 61 off 81 balls.
In reply, Sri Lanka lost openers Sanath Jayasuriya (7) and Upul Tharanga (10) in successive balls to the bowling of Brett Lee and Bracken.
Jaywardene (6) then took an unnecessary risk with the score on 57, and was caught behind off Mitchell Johnson.
Kumar Sangakkara anchored the Sri Lanka innings before Bracken struck a crucial blow in the 20th over, trapping the left hander leg before for 42 off 41 balls.
Sri Lankathen lost two more wickets in the next two overs as spinner Brad Hogg removed Chamara Silva, caught behind for 7, before Bracken had Chamara Kapugedera caught at slip for 0.
Sri Lanka had lost 3-10 in 13 balls, to be 6-84, to put victory out of their grasp. Bracken had Tillekeratne Dilshan (14) caught at long-off to claim his fourth scalp, and the paceman then removed Muttiah Muralidaran caught in the deep in his ninth over to end the match.
Ponting had earlier won the toss and elected to bat first in overcast conditions.
Matthew Hayden, returning from a hamstring injury, hit 42 to dominate an opening stand of 65 with Gilchrist, who hit three fours and one six in his 54th half-century.
Ponting (9), Andrew Symonds (12) and Mike Hussey (10) all failed before James Hopes made 34 off 29 balls in a 63-run partnership with Clarke. Hopes was out in the final over.
Muralidaran went wicketless and was then struck in the face by the ball while diving forward at mid-on in the 48th over. The 35-year-old immediately left the field for treatment.
Chaminda Vaas (2-34) was the pick of the Sri Lankan bowlers.