Bracken bowls Australia to victory

SYDNEY, Australia -- Australian left-arm paceman Nathan Bracken took five wickets as they thrashed Sri Lanka by 128 runs in their one-day international triangular series match in Sydney on Friday.

Bracken took career-best figures of 5-46 as he claimed the crucial wickets of opener Sanath Jayasuriya and Kumar Sangakkara, who top-scored for the Sri Lankans with 42 and looked the main threat.

He then returned for a devastating second spell to wreck the lower order as the tourists managed just 125 off 31.3 overs chasing a target of 254.

Michael Clarke's unbeaten half-century had guided Australia to 253 for six, and in reply the tourists failed to recover from a dismal start.

They lost opening batsmen Jayasuriya and Upul Tharanga to consecutive balls early on for just seven and 10 respectively.

Kumar Sangakkara steadied the ship but was trapped lbw by Bracken eight runs short of his half-century. After that, Sri Lanka offered little resistance, adding just 51 runs for the last six wickets.

Ricky Ponting had opted to bat after winning the toss and his decision was vindicated when Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden put on 65 for the first wicket, before the latter was caught by Mahela Jayawardene off Ishara Amerasinghe.

Clarke came in when the hosts were 88 for two and hit a solid unbeaten 77, helped by a quickfire 34 off 29 balls from James Hopes.

The first win of the rain-affected series sees Australia top the standings ahead of India with Sri Lanka in third position. E-mail to a friend