Australia are not playing as they can, in fact it is a moot point if they are even choosing their best team, and injuries are plaguing their continuity and confidence. During the Sri Lankan run chase Shane Warne acted as captain in the field for Steve Waugh, whose hamstring played up again and who is now unlikely to be seen again before the finals begin on Feb 10, assuming Australia get there.
Warne's imaginative tactics kept Australia in the game after Marvan Atapattu had all but batted them out of it. When Atapattu was run out by Glenn McGrath's stunning pick-up and direct hit 10 overs remained, seven wickets were still in hand and only 48 were needed to win. But Warne closed his men in and set daring fields which put fear in the minds of the Sri Lankans, who bat better when given freedom.
Warne used himself and McGrath cleverly so, as the rate edged above five an over, the panic set in. Four of Ranatunga's partners fell to indiscreet slogs and it was nothing short of a miracle that his runner - Sanath Jayasuriya had been controversially allowed to run for Ranatunga, who claimed a sprained thigh muscle - made it home on at least a couple of line decisions. There were only two boundaries in Ranatunga's 61-ball innings and one of those was a nick between wicketkeeper and slip when 13 were required from the final two overs.
Timing of the ball had been difficult all day on a sluggish pitch and only when Romesh Kaluwitharana and Atapattu were going well did batting appear straightforward.
Sri Lanka were desperate to win this game and credit must to go Atapattu for his exemplary concentration after Mark Waugh had missed him at deep gully when he had made just 23. Further credit must go again to the remarkable Ranatunga, who gave his boys a severe heart-to-heart the night before the match, put Australia in to bat after winning the toss and backed his batsmen, who are still minus Aravinda de Silva, to chase anything Australia set them.
The tacky pitch encouraged the Sri Lankan seamers, who immediately found a good length and bowled straighter than of late. Chaminda Vaas, swinging the ball at last, restricted Adam Gilchrist to such a degree that he lost his off stump after a ghastly, frustrated heave.
Mark Waugh, who is in delectable form, showed more patience - he waited until the 30th over to hit a boundary - and worked the ball into the gaps for single after single while Darren Lehmann chipped the spinners around at leisure. Both offered easy chances during their 93-run partnership but Vaas and Muralitharan let them off the hook, as Muralitharan was to do again when Shane Lee swept into his hands at deep square leg.
Australia's death wish continued - eight of the nine wickets fell to catches - and a total of 210 was below par and seemed 20 short of a winning score.
At their most prolific Sri Lanka would have cruised home but the jitters were alive after eight one-day defeats in succession. They are some way to being back on track now, though they are by no means on an even keel, and they are praying that de Silva is fit enough to play against England in Adelaide tomorrow.
Australia's selectors are rethinking their 14-man party as they had promised to do after the first five games. Stuart Law and Michael Kasprowicz have been drafted in to cover the injuries to Steve Waugh and off-spinner Bradley Young.
Two who are not so immediately concerned are Damien Fleming and Ricky Ponting. Fleming has a shoulder problem and is almost certain to be rested until the Test team go to the Caribbean at the end of next month. Ponting has a drink problem, which is another issue altogether. He was ``stood down'' from yesterday's match while an investigation takes place about a brawl in a Sydney pub in the early hours of last Monday which finished with one of Ponting's eyes looking decidedly black. Rumour has it that more of this story is still to come and that, at the very least, he will be fined heavily and suspended for a minimum of five matches.