PERTH, Dec 22: Promoted opener Darren Lehmann scored a century at a run a ball to help Australia crush Sri Lanka by 142 runs in the triangular series one-day match on Sunday and return to the top of the competition standings.

Lehmann smashed 12 fours and a six to top-score with 119 as Australia amassed a record 305 for five from 50 overs.

Their total was their highest against any team at the WACA Ground.

The Sri Lankans, yet to win a game in the tournament after twice losing to England, then crumbled to 163 all out in 43 overs to hand the Australians their third successive win.

The left-handed Lehmann, promoted to open the batting in place of the injured Adam Gilchrist, scored his third One-day International century but his first on home soil.

He was well supported by Matthew Hayden, who made 64 in an opening stand of 162, and the reliable Michael Bevan, who made an unbeaten 40 in just 41 balls to guide the Australians past 300.

The only Sri Lankan bowler to trouble the Australians was paceman Prabath Nissanka, who captured three wickets for 54 runs in eight overs.

After Australia won the toss, Lehmann wasted no time adjusting to his new position as he and Hayden tore into the Sri Lankans.

Hitting boundaries to all parts of the ground, the two left-handers put on 100 in 76 minutes, Lehmann reaching his half-century off 46 balls and Hayden getting his from 54 balls with a six off Pulasthi Gunaratne.

Hayden departed for 64 when he was caught by Mahela Jayawardene but Lehmann maintained the tempo to reach his hundred off exactly 100 balls.

Nissanka briefly put the brakes on Australia’s run-spree when he dismissed Ricky Ponting (17), Lehmann and Damien Martyn (nine) as the home side slipped from 202-1 to 223-4 before Bevan’s late burst ensured them of another big total.

Sri Lanka made a poor start to their reply when they lost their first five wickets for 62 runs.

Captain Sanath Jayasuriya (three), opener Marvan Atapattu (15) and Jehan Mubarak (four) all departed cheaply before the match was briefly interrupted by rain.

Things did not improve for the Sri Lankans after the re-start with Jayawardene (21) and Russel Arnold (15) falling to loose shots.

Wicket-keeper Romesh Kaluwitharana, with 35, and Kumar Sangakkara, with 40, restored some respectability to the innings with a 78-run partnership for the sixth wicket but their dismissals triggered a late collapse.

The Sri Lankans lost their last five wickets for just 23 runs as fast bowler Brett Lee and all-rounder Shane Watson picked up three wickets apiece.

The one-day series stops for the next two and a half weeks while the final two Tests between Australia and England are played before resuming on Jan 9.

Australia lead the series with 17 points from three games, ahead of England on 11 from four matches and Sri Lanka one from three.

Scoreboard

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