Geoff Lawson
Ex-Australia fast bowler on BBC Test Match Special

"The build-up of pressure during the over was crucial - the quality of the Starc over, and the fact that Jayawardene missed a low full toss outside off stump brought the pressure to the sixth ball of the over."

Listen to live TMS commentary by clicking on the audio icon.

Gone! Jayawardene tied down by Mitchell Starc, goes in search of a single to mid-off. Clarke, bad hamstring/back and all, collects and hits the stumps at the non-striker's end. Jayawardene's dive in vain. The stand of 153 is over. The skipper lets out a primal roar.

Sri Lanka 186-2 (30 overs) - target 377

Batsmen: Sangakkara 98*, Jayawardene 18*

Fall of wickets: 5-1 (Thirimanne 1), 135-2 (Dilshan 62)

Bowling figures: Johnson 6-0-38-1, Starc 5-0-16-0, Watson 3-0-24-0, Doherty 5-0-35-0, Maxwell 6-0-35-0, Faulkner 5-0-32-1

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

Australia won toss

Full scorecard

Image source, Reuters

Sangakkara living dangerously, miscuing a Faulkner slower ball to deep extra cover, where Glenn Maxwell can't quite get his fingertips under it as he dives forward full length. To rub salt into the Australian wounds, Sangakkara takes three fours off the last three balls of the over. Game on in Sydney.

It's batting powerplay time. With almost 10 an over needed, Sri Lanka sense the moment. Faulkner is Australia's go-to man with the ball. Brace yourselves.

Image source, AFP

The half-chances are starting to come a little more regularly now. It's Jayawardene this time, slashing the returning Shane Watson to third man for a couple. Warner, scowling and prowling, maintains the pressure with a diving stop at point.

And is that Aaron Finch getting a telling-off from umpire Ian Gould for throwing the ball into the pitch from barely 20 yards away? It might be in Australia's interests to scuff the ball up if there's any reverse swing to be had...

Phew! Maxwell hurries through another over. A frustrated Sangakkara sweeps the last ball, and a top edge loops harmlessly over the wicketkeeper's head. They pick up two runs.

DeathApeDisco: Sounds like it's a good game. If it was on TV, young kids might even want to try and play cricket sometime. Never mind.

Wonderful placement from Sangakkara, who makes full use of his crease to pull Xavier Doherty for four past a diving deep mid-wicket. That's only the second boundary in eight overs.

Vic Marks
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

"Sri Lanka have to pressurise someone, try and get inside the heads of some of the bowlers. They cannot just pick off singles all the while. Doherty is a candidate because he is not quite in the groove as he has not been playing regularly."

Sangakkara leans forward, squashes his helmet on his head and watches the sweat drip out. I hope the photographers got that. With Sri Lanka rebuilding, Australia captain Michael Clarke takes the chance to turn back to Glenn Maxwell. Four off the over.

The tattooed Johnson starting to find some swing on this Sydney evening. Over the wicket to Sangakkara, angling the ball back in to the left-hander. A single off the last ball prevents the first maiden of the match.

We're at the halfway stage. Sri Lanka need 227 off 25 overs. I'll spare you the maths - that's 9.08 an over.

Vic Marks
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

"I think Faulkner has done a great favour for his captain - even before he got the wicket he had stemmed the runs. You only need three or four overs where only three or four runs are scored, and suddenly the required rate rockets when you have such big target in front of you. "

Listen to live TMS commentary by clicking on the audio icon.

There was a moment when Jayawardene flicked Faulkner off his pads over mid-wicket and I thought it may be a chance to the man in the deep. But I underestimated the former Sri Lanka skipper - he wouldn't do something as stupid as hit the ball to where a fielder is, would he? Silly me. Four runs.

Pressure mounting on Sri Lanka, who are grateful for four leg byes as Johnson strays. Sangakkara has 71 off 70 balls but the Sri Lanka staff on the balcony look on pensively.

Robbie Comery: This would be one hell of a chase from Sri Lanka, but with 8 wickets in hand and Kumar at the crease, who knows?

Jayawardene warms up his ageing muscles with a risky single to mid-on, where Mitchell Johnson collects and throws at the non-striker's end. Oooh! That would have been out if he'd hit.

Vic Marks
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

"Dilshan swung right across it, and as long as it pitched in line, it was out. That is an important wicket - the Aussies needed that. That was Faulkner's off-cutter, almost out of the back of his hand."

Image source, AFP

Gone! The reviews shows it pitched just in line with leg stump, and suggests it would have gone on to hit the stumps. Dilshan's super knock is over - and Shane Watson sends him on his way with something that may or may not have been 'Tally ho, old chap'.

Is the breakthrough for Australia? Faulkner pins Dilshan on the back leg as he aims across the line. Umpire Gould raises his finger. But Dilshan doesn't like it - and he reviews it...