Sri Lanka back in business after thrilling win

His masterly innings - most of it with a runner after he strained a calf muscle - steered the tourists home against Australia with three balls left in a crucial tri-nations tournament one-day match.

Sri Lanka had to win to retain a serious interest in the best-of-three finals and a shot at a lucrative prize.

They still trail in the points table with just two compared to Australia's four and England's eight. But Ranatunga's pepped-up men have a chance to strengthen their position this weekend when they clash with both in Adelaide.

After winning the toss and restricting the home side to 210 for nine in their 50 overs, Sri Lanka made 211 for seven for their first win in the tournament. They lost the first three games.

Opener Sanath Jayasuriya was run out for three in the first over. But Marvan Atapattu and Romesh Kaluwitharana set Sri Lanka on course with a marvellous second-wicket stand of 116, although Atapattu was lucky to be dropped by Mark Waugh on 23.

Atapattu made 82 from 121 balls including six boundaries before being run out while Kaluwitharana knocked up 54 including five boundaries from 82 balls.

The tourists looked to be coasting to victory on 178 for three but a clatter of wickets as the pressure mounted left Australia with an outside chance.

Acting Australian captain Shane Warne snapped up Upul Chandana (8), Hashan Tillakeratne (3) and Roshan Mahanama (4) in a long-awaited return to form.

But despite his injury, Ranatunga kept his nerve as four wickets toppled for 20 and finished with a superbly paced unbeaten 45 from 61 balls.

In a tense eighth-wicket partnership of 13 with fast bowler Chaminda Vaas, Ranatunga displayed nerves of steel as Warne tried every trick in the book to conjure a victory.

With three overs to go, Australia looked to have a real chance but 35-year-old Ranatunga never faltered as the pressure mounted.

Warne confirmed after the game he had objected to Ranatunga having a runner but had been overruled by umpires Peter Parker and Steve Davis.

Sri Lanka's bowlers, skilfully handled by Ranatunga, had set up the victory earlier. Despite half-centuries from Mark Waugh and Darren Lehmann, Australia never fully recovered from a slow and shaky start.

Opening bowlers Vass and Pramodya Wickramasinghe bowled the first 14 overs for only 32 while removing Adam Gilchrist and Greg Blewett cheaply.

Mark Waugh (65) and Lehmann (51) put on 93 from 124 balls, the only worthwhile partnership of the innings.

But although they boosted the run-rate to almost four an over, they were unable to dominate as Ranatunga continually changed his bowlers.

Once they were parted the later batsmen, particularly Shane Lee and Steve Waugh, perished while trying to slog.

Vass took 3-27, Sanath Jayasuriya 3-47 and Muttiah Muralitharan 2-42.