Vic Marks
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

"That wasn't the prettiest nine runs I have ever seen, swishing and swashing at the ball. Starc bounced Prasanna every time he could and I think he deserved the wicket.

"I'm wondering, with a red ball, if Starc will start to lead the attack. Certainly with a white ball in this tournament he is the leader and the most dangerous."

And there she is. Starc strikes. Round the wicket, he peppers the base of the stumps and Prasanna is cleaned up as he makes room. The understated celebration - a punch of the air - says all you need to know about Australia's dominant position now.

Sri Lanka need 73 off the last six overs, three of which will be bowled by the laser-guided Mitchell Starc.

Watson, who was dropped for Australia's victory over Afghanistan, is entrusted with the ball in the death overs. Prasanna edges wide of Haddin for four - he was aiming a more towards mid-wicket - but only eight off the over. Sri Lanka need 12s.

Vic Marks
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

"I don't think Sri Lanka are going to do it. And it means Australia - I think we can assume now - will qualify for the quarter-finals of the World Cup. They can lose against Scotland and still go through. Seven points will do it."

Seekuge Prasanna, what can you do? The new batsman can only gather a single off the last three legitimate balls. A penny for Dinesh Chandimal's thoughts right now...

Image source, AFP

Vic Marks
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

"It was brief and exciting from Perera. He hit a couple of fours, went up against Johnson - I'm not even sure it was one of his quicker balls - but it went straight up into the air.

"It's been a fantastic game. Great theatre."

Well, it was nice while it lasted. Johnson drops short and Perera, backing away, is beaten by a slower ball. You can hear his groan on the stump mic as the ball spirals to mid-off, where Xavier Doherty pouches a sitter.

Russel Arnold
Ex-Sri Lanka all-rounder on BBC Test Match Special

"The last time Perera came out he played a blinder. Yes, it was against Afghanistan, but that grind was what they needed."

What's all the fuss about, thinks Perera. He swats his first ball over extra cover off the back foot then lifts Watson back over his head. Easy game, this cricket.

Russel Arnold
Ex-Sri Lanka all-rounder on BBC Test Match Special

"Well directed from around the wicket. A double blow, Chandimal hobbling off and now the skipper out.

"It's not going to be the same for Chandimal coming back later. The adrenaline is pumping and you are in the zone. It's always better going from there than coming back and trying to find that rhythm."

Image source, AFP

Not what Sri Lanka wanted. Two batsmen have gone in three balls. Shane Watson round the wicket to Mathews. Surprises him with a bumper. Mathews, on the hook, top-edges behind. We now have two batsmen, Upul Tharanga and Thisara Perera, who have not faced a ball.

Drama at the SCG. Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews tells Chandimal, who is barely able to run, to leave the field. He limps off, with 52 from 24 balls, and Thisara Perera replaces him.

Chandimal is the main man, so Sri Lanka need him out there. Badly. Barely able to walk, he miscues a pull over square-leg (how many chances have landed safely in this innings?) and has to dive to make it back for a second run. That's his fifty, off 22 balls. A super knock, whatever happens.

Russel Arnold
Ex-Sri Lanka all-rounder on BBC Test Match Special

"Just imagine, finally Chandimal has gone out there looking positive, playing a special innings and he pulls a hamstring! He has had a tough time, he is playing a gem and he starts limping.

"That will restrict Sri Lanka's running between the wickets and it's a big ground here. Who knows, maybe it's just the breather they needed."

Image source, AP

What do we have here? Chandimal is on the deck and the Sri Lanka physio is needed again. It looked like he tweaked something as he stretched to make that second run. I'm not sure I've ever seen a player getting a rub-down on the field before. I thought Wimbledon wasn't until June...

Sri Lanka 272-4 (40 overs) - target 377

Batsmen: Mathews 30*, Chandimal 46*

Fall of wickets: 5-1 (Thirimanne 1), 135-2 (Dilshan 62), 188-3 (Jayawardene 19), 201-4 (Sangakkara 104)

Bowling figures: Starc 7-0-23-0, Johnson 7-0-50-1, Watson 5-0-51-0, Doherty 7-0-60-0, Maxwell 6-0-35-0, Faulkner 8-0-46-2

Australia 376-9: Maxwell 102 (53), Smith 72, Clarke 68, Watson 67

Australia won toss

Full scorecard

Russel Arnold
Ex-Sri Lanka all-rounder on BBC Test Match Special

"Australia made 124 in the last 10 overs. Sri Lanka basically have to match Australia.

"Even if Sri Lanka fall short, they will still be happy with this effort. The belief in the team will be greater. The batsmen above Chandimal will have faith in him and they can relax a little bit."

Just when you think Australia are putting this game beyond reach, Sri Lanka just about manage to stay in touch. Chandimal is doing his best impersonation of Glenn Maxwell, charging at Shane Watson and edging past short third man for four before drilling a full toss through cover. Fetch that.

Sri Lanka need 105 off the last 10 overs. Simples.

Rob Meech: This game is a perfect illustration of why England are so far behind the times in ODI cricket.