Gilchrist's blinding century as Aussies bring off record chase

Gilchrist upstaged audacious Sri Lankan opener Sanath Jayasuriya in the battle of the big hitters with an astonishing knock of 131 off 118 balls, studded with two sixes and 10 fours, the fourth highest one-day score by an Australian.

Jayasuriya smashed 65 from 62 balls in Sri Lanka's seemingly unbeatable 259 for nine, which required a record SCG chase, but Gilchrist went all the way and clinched his hundred with a swept six off spinner Mahela Jayawardene over the square leg fence.

It was his fourth century in a year since being promoted to opener in place of Test captain Mark Taylor and he has more than justified his selection as a batsman.

After two matches England have two wins, Australia one and World Cup champions Sri Lanka none.

Australia's 260 for two was a record chase in Sydney, eclipsing the home side's 257 for five against Sri Lanka here in 1995-96.

Sri Lanka were playing at the SCG for the first time since the acrimonious 1995-96 one-day finals but the only hostilities Wednesday were directed at the white ball.

Having collapsed in Brisbane last Sunday chasing 4.25 runs per over for 36 overs, the Australians decided to beat the Sri Lankans at their own slugging game.

Mark Waugh hit a measured 63 from 76 balls as Gilchrist dominated their opening stand of 151 in 156 balls.

Gilchrist's first 50 came off just 37 balls, including a swept six off spinner Muttiah Muralitharan onto the top deck of one of the SCG grandstands.

Gilchrist threw his head into the air in disappointed when he skied Chaminda Vaas to long-on where he was caught by Marvan Atapattu.

Muralitharan's first over was predictably greeted with ``no-ball'' calls from large sections of the 35,134-strong crowd, echoing the unfriendly receptions in Brisbane, Melbourne and Adelaide.

His first two overs went for 16 and he later picked up Waugh at long-on but was unable to stem the tide.

The out-of-form Ricky Ponting remained not out 43 after helping add 74 for the second wicket.

Such an emphatic batting display more than made up for a substandard performance in the field as Sri Lanka pocketed a bonus 30 runs from mistakes.

Catches went down, Gilchrist missed a stumping, overthrows were conceded and some balls went through players' hands for four in a reverse from Sunday's bubbly display against England.

Jayasuriya reached his 50 off as many balls in putting on 95 in 15 overs with Romesh Kaluwitharana, who made 32 off 38 balls without seeing much of the strike.

Accurate bowling from captain Shane Warne, who took 2-44 from his 10 overs, slowed the run rate until a surge in the last five overs as Hashan Tillakaratne hit out for 73.

Tillekeratne had a life on nought when umpire Terry Prue gave him the benefit on a faint edge off Warne, on 14 Warne warned him for backing up too far at the bowler's end and on 24 Damien Martyn dropped a low return chance.

Australian spinner Brad Young was taken off the field in the 14th over with a suspected fractured left ankle after badly injuring himself when he crashed into the boundary hoardings.

Australia have a return match with England in Melbourne on Friday.