PERTH, Jan 29: Adam Gilchrist burst back to his swashbuckling best on Sunday, blasting 116 runs as Australia crushed Sri Lanka by six wickets and wrapped up a berth in the finals of the triangular series limited overs competition.

In a devastating display of power and technique, Gilchrist, revelling in his role as acting captain and playing in front of his home crowd, feasted on the Sri Lankan bowling and smashed his way out of a form slump with four sixes and 10 boundaries.

His stunning century, which came up in only 99 balls, in partnership with fellow opener Simon Katich, carried Australia to 237-4 off 41 overs in reply to Sri Lanka’s pedestrian 233-8 off 50.

Gilchrist, who had made just 58 runs in his last six one-day innings for Australia, showed obvious relief when he made his ton, punching the air and running towards his teammates and family in the dressing rooms in celebration.

Australia now have 18 points after six matches — nine points clear of Sri Lanka who have also played six.

South Africa, who play Sri Lanka in Perth on Tuesday, have eight points from just four matches.

Gilchrist has been under intense pressure in the local media with some sections calling for him to be dropped down the batting order.

The Sri Lankans never looked in the hunt on Sunday and it was obvious from the outset that the Australians meant business.

At one point Gilchrist humiliated super-sub Akalanka Ganegamax taking 20 runs off what was to be his only over.

The Sri Lankans had earlier crashed to 27-3 in the 11th over of their innings and were only saved from disaster by a fourth-wicket partnership of 121 off 156 balls between Mahela Jayawardene and Russel Arnold.

Scoreboard

Sri Lanka:

S. Jayasuriya c Gilchrist b Lee 0

J. Mubarak c Hodge b Clark 15

K. Sangakkara run out 6

M. Jayawardene c McGrath b Symonds 69

R. Arnold c Clarke b Clark 56

T. Dilshan run out 33

C. Kapugedara c Hogg b Lee 22

C. Vaas not out 6

N. Kulasekara run out 0

M. Muralitharan not out 3

Extras: (lb14, w9) 23

Total ( for eight wkts) 233

Fall of wkts: 1-6, 2-16, 3-27, 4-148, 5-170, 6-224, 7-225, 8-227

Did not bat: D. Fernando

Bowling: B.Lee 10-0-42-2(1w), G. McGrath 10-2-35-0(1w), S. Clark 10-0-40-2(3w), A. Symonds 10-0-54-1(1w), B. Hogg 10-0-48-0(3w)

Australia:

A. Gilchrist c and b Muralitharan 116

S. Katich b Vaas 82

B. Hodge c Sangakkara b Fernando 2

D. Martyn not out 13

A. Symonds c Jayawardene b Vaas 5

M. Clarke not out 9

Extras (nb5, w4, lb1) 10

Total ( for four wkts in 41 overs) 237

Fall of wkts: 1-191, 2-200, 3-209, 4-221

Did not bat: M. Hussey, B. Hogg, B. Lee, S. Clark, G. McGrath

Bowling: C. Vaas 8-1-39-2, D. Fernando 9-0-52-1(3w, 4nb), Nuwan Kulasekara 8-1-37-0(1w), A. Ganegama 1-0-20-0, M. Muralitharan 10-0-53-1(1nb), T. Dilshan 3-0-24-0, S. Jayasuriya 2-0-11-0

Umpires: Peter Parker (AUS), Mark Benson (ENG).—Agencies