Australia close on victory

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After Nathan Bracken (four for 19) had helped to check the Sri Lanka innings at Queen's Park, Australia's top order responded with 132 for three by the 25-over mark in this Super Eight match between two teams already through to the semi-finals.

Champions Australia can make almost entirely sure of topping the table with a match to spare if they beat Sri Lanka - and openers Matthew Hayden and Adam Gilchrist showed plenty of ambition in a stand of 76 in just 12 overs.

The two left-handers then went within three runs of one another, though - to the part-time off-spin of Russel Arnold. Hayden chipped a catch to midwicket, and Gilchrist was lbw pushing forward.

Captain Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke had to start again but kept their team ahead of the game until the number four fell to Malinga Bandara's leg-spin, driving a low catch to extra-cover.

Sri Lanka had earlier twice lost a clutch of untimely wickets.

Either side of a 140-run stand between Mahela Jayawardene (72) and Chamara Silva (64), three fell for one run and then five more for just 17.

The upshot, after Jayawardene had chosen to bat first, was a working total which owed almost all its substance to the fourth-wicket pair - who nonetheless failed to finish the job.