MELBOURNE, Australia -- Sri Lanka's hopes of qualifying for the final of the one-day international triangular series further receded after Australia beat them by 24 runs in a rain-shortened match in Melbourne.
Aussie paceman Stuart Clark claims the early wicket of Dilruwan Perera.
The visitors looked well place to win after restricting the Australians to 184 for seven in their 50 overs.
But their own reply became mired after losing early wickets and they had crawled to 77 for four wickets off 29.3 overs when the match was eventually called off.
It left them well short of the 102 runs required under the Duckworth-Lewis method.
With only one win in six games, Sri Lanka need to beat both India and Australia in their final two matches to have any chance of qualification.
Australia's victory, their seventh one-day win in succession over Sri Lanka, guaranteed their place in the final with India the likely opposition.
The home side were indebted to a fine partnership by Mike Hussey (64 not out) and Michael Clarke (50) for putting on almost half of their total with a fifth-wicket stand of 90.
Farveez Maharoof and Mutiah Muralitharan both took two wickets with Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting and Andrew Symonds all going cheaply as they continue to struggle in the series.
Sri Lanka appeared to be in command, but veteran Sanath Jayasuriya and fellow opener Dilruwan Perera both went to Stuart Clarke as they slumped to three for two.
Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene pulled the innings around but the latter was caught behind off Nathan Bracken for 27. When Sangakkara fell for 22 going for quick runs it was all but over for his side as the rains then fell at the MCG.
Bangladesh hit back to reduce South Africa to 76-4 after being skittled out for 192 on the opening day of the first Test in Dhaka.
The hosts dismissed openers Graeme Smith and Neil Mckenzie and capped their day by sending back Hashim Amla and the dangerous Jacques Kallis.
Earlier, Aftab Ahmed top scored with 44 and put on 70 with Shakib Al Hasan (30) as Morne Morkel took five wickets for the visitors. E-mail to a friend 
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