Ponting cracked four sixes in his run-a-ball 12th one-day century whilst Gilchrist fell agonisingly short of his ninth ton when he was run out for 99.

Their superb batting ensured that Australia set Sanath Jayasuriya’s side a towering 320 run target in the first game of the Super Sixes.

Sri Lanka struggled to take wickets throughout the innings as a brutal 75 run opening partnership was followed by a flowing 106 run stand between Ponting and Gilchrist.

The loss of Gilchrist, run out in the 30th over after a direct hit from Chaminda Vaas, failed to stem the run flood either as Damien Martyn helped add 112 in only 15.5 overs for the third wicket.

Ponting worked hard for his first fifty runs but found his best form after the dismissal of Gilchrist and raced to his hundred off just 96 balls.

The second fifty came from only 30 deliveries with Vaas’s eighth over leaking 20 runs as the right-hander slammed two flat sixes over long on.

Sri Lanka were left ruing a series of missed opportunities, including a muffed stumping by Sangakkara early on and two run outs when on 36 and 72.

The 28-year-old finished with 114 from 106 balls, an innings that included eight fours and two sixes, before top edging an attempted pull.

Martyn, who scored a fluent 52 from 58 balls, added 20 runs with Darryl Lehmann before being bowled by Dilhara Fernando in the last over of the innings.

Fernando, the best of the seamers despite being warned twice for running on the protected area, then picked up his third wicket as Lehmann was caught at mid-wicket.

Sri Lanka’s quickest bowler finished with three for 47 from nine overs.

Star spinner Muttiah Muralitharan was the only other bowler to threaten, finishing with one for 47 from his 10 overs, the most economical figures of the day.

Sri Lanka will have to create history to win with no side having successfully chased a 320 run target before in a World Cup.

The 31-year-old opener reached his 29th ODI fifty off 45 balls and then powered on afterwards to leave reigning world champions Australia in a very strong position.

Mid-way through their innings Australia were 156 for one, looking set for a 300 plus total on a prime batting strip.

Gilchrist feasted on some loose bowling from Chaminda Vaas and Pulasthi Gunaratne with the new ball and continued to bat aggressively as Sri Lanka turned to spin.

A ninth one-day century appears likely with the left-hander having already sped to 85 from 75 balls with 12 fours and two sixes.

Ricky Ponting, who had earlier won the toss, played a supportive hand, content to sit back and enjoy the Gilchrist fireworks.

However, the skipper was still no slouch, unbeaten on 37 from 45 balls.

Only star spinner Muttiah Muralitharan was able to hold Gilchrist in check, conceding just 16 runs from five overs and taking the important wicket of Matthew Hayden.

But the other bowlers all proved expensive, including Vaas, the tournament’s highest wicket-taker, who conceded seven runs per over in his opening burst.

Sri Lanka’s part-time spinners had proved economical during the first round but Aravinda de Silva was clouted for 24 runs in three overs and Russel Arnold leaked 21 in two.

Hayden was unfortunate to be adjudged caught at silly point by New Zealand umpire Billy Bowden as he tried to work a Muralitharan delivery to leg.

The fall of his partner did not perturb Gilchrist. On the contrary, he launched both de Silva and Arnold for huge leg-side sixes.

Eventually, with Muralitharan’s overs being used up too quickly, Jayasuriya introduced fast bowler Dilhara Fernando.

Fernando beat the bat on a couple of occasions and troubled Ponting once with a short delivery but still conceded nearly a run-a-ball.

Ponting should have been run out on 36 but wicket-keeper Kumar Sangakkara missed the stumps as the Australian captain scrambling for his ground.

The World Champions have made just one change to their line-up, bringing in all-rounder Ian Harvey in place of the injured Andrew Symonds.

Sri Lanka, meanwhile, go into the match with the same squad that took the field in the rain-affected tied match against South Africa at Durban on Monday.

Australia: Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting, Damien Martyn, Darren Lehmann, Michael Bevan, Ian Harvey, Brad Hogg, Brett Lee, Andrew Bichel, Glenn McGrath.

Sri Lanka: Sanath Jayasuriya, Marvan Atapattu, Hashan Tillakaratne, Mahela Jayawardene, Aravinda de Silva, Russel Arnold, Kumara Sangakkara, Chaminda Vaas, Muttiah Muralitharan, Dilhara Fernando, Pulasthi Gunaratne.