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MELBOURNE CRICKET GROUND, Sunday - A magnificent opening stand of 145 between Romesh Kaluwitharana (68) and Aviskha Gunewardena (75) was allowed to go abegging as the middle order batsman floundered and Sri Lanka surrendered to Australia by 43 runs in their final preliminary Carlton and United series one-day competition here today.

Chasing a huge Aussie score of 311 to win, Kaluwitharna and Gunewardena gave the Lankans an explosive start hoisting their stand in just 122 balls. But after Kaluwitharne and Gunewardena left, the elder statesmen of Sri Lanka cricket and the most experienced Aravinda de Silva and Arjuna Ranatunga played irresponsible shots and left allowing their mates to sink or swim. And sink they did.

Kaluwitharane and Gunewardena had the Aussie attack by the jagular and wrung them to all parts of the field and over it with consummate ease. Kaluwitharne was hitting the ball straight and cutting powerfully. In one Shane Warne over he belted the spinner for 18 (3 fours and a mighty six). Kaluwitharne went making 68 off 60, a score made with grace and exquisite timing. The six he hit off the back foot over point was the shot of the match. He made 75 playing in only his second game on the tour and it came in 66 balls with 9 fours and 2 sixes. Gunewardena has ideal temperament, good eye and the strokes to make him one of the most exciting batsmen in world cricket in the future. It is hoped he will concentrate and take the game seriously.

Mahela Jayawardena another steady batsman made a strong effort but ran himself out for 27. Hashan Tillekeratne took it on himself to see if he could take this team to an impossible victory, but ran short of partners and finally holed out for 42.

It was a sad end to a game that the Lankans could well have pocketed and ended their tour in glory. Shane Lee had the best figures of 5 for 33.

There was heavy overnight rain, but the ground had recovered well and the game started on time. Australia won the toss and batted on a flat pitch which had a lot of run in it.

The Aussie openers gave them a sound start putting on 92 for the first wicket. Left hander Adam Gilchrist who seems to be a follower of Sri Lanka's Sanath Jayasuriya belted the Lankan bowlers to all parts of the field and over it as well in an innings of 154 which is now the highest by an Australian in limited overs cricket. The previous record was held by Dean Jones and Ricky Ponting who had both made 145 a piece. It was a blistering knock by Gilchrist who hit 14 fours and 2 sixes off 129 balls.

Gilchrist excelled with pulls and cuts and was never afraid to hit the ball over the top. While Gilchrist was cutting loose, the man who has suffered most on this tour by way of boos, cat calls and disparaging remarks and who was not expected to play nursing a groin injury Muthiah Muralitharan started with a sensational first over which gave him the wicket of Waugh second ball and Julian fourth ball and a double wicket maiden over.

It was a fantastic first over which saw the Aussies from 92 for no loss to 92 for 2. He should have had the wicket of Ponting when the batsman was on 11. But he dropped a sitter of a caught and bowled. Muralitharan was looking unplayable and it was a big setback to the Lankans to see him leave the field unable to complete his fourth over aggravating his groin injury.

With Muralitharan out of the attack, Gilchrist and Ponting went their merry way putting on 121 runs in 118 balls. After Ponting went for 61 and Gilchrist 154 there was a middle order batting collapse. But the Aussies did well to post 310 for 8 which is the highest one day scores at the MCG and also the highest in the current Carlton and United series.

The previous best was 303 by Sri Lanka against England at Adelaide. Muralitharan when he went off had figures of 2 for 15. Vaas who made his presence felt later in the Australian innings finished with 2 for 68.

Considering his status these figures were too expensive for Vaas.