Australia booked their place in the World Cup quarter-finals with a 64-run victory over Sri Lanka at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
A spectacular maiden one-day international century from Glenn Maxwell laid the foundations as Australia posted 376 for nine. But Sri Lanka signalled that they are also in fine form for the knockout stages by threatening to complete a record run chase, with Kumar Sangakkara becoming the first man to score three consecutive centuries at a World Cup.
However, Sri Lanka were always up against it after Maxwell’s 53-ball 102 had helped Australia to their enormous total, and the co-hosts are now almost certain to finish second in pool A and avoid both India, the defending champions, and South Africa in the quarter-finals.
Maxwell’s innings featured a full array of shots in a prodigious armoury and his hundred, off 51 balls, was only one short of the record for the quickest World Cup century. He shared a 160-run partnership with Shane Watson, who hit 67 to celebrate his recall to the team.
Maxwell was dropped by a back-peddling Sangakkara on 95 and there was a nervous wait on 99 before his chance of sharing the World Cup record with Ireland’s Kevin O’Brien disappeared when the umpire ruled a leg bye off the 50th ball he faced. The century came up soon enough with two runs to mid-off.
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Steve Smith, who hit 72, and Michael Clarke, who made 68, had earlier steadied the innings with a partnership of 134 after David Warner and Aaron Finch, the openers, had been dismissed for nine and 24, respectively, inside the first ten overs.
Maxwell hit ten fours and four sixes in his innings and the pyrotechnics continued when Sri Lanka came out to bat. Tillakaratne Dilshan set the tone by spectacularly hitting six fours off Mitchell Johnson’s third over. Johnson had already dismissed Lahiru Thirimanne, caught behind for one, in his opening over to bring Dilshan and Sangakkara together at the crease.
While their 130-run partnership continued, it looked like Sri Lanka had a chance but James Faulkner, who finished with figures of three for 48, trapped Dilshan in front for 62 and the innings lost momentum.
Sangakkara had already become only the second player after Sachin Tendulkar to score 14,000 runs in one-day internationals and was not going to be denied his century, which he reached in as many balls with two runs to backward square.
He departed soon afterwards for 104, leaving Dinesh Chandimal, who hit 52 off 24 balls before retiring hurt, and Angelo Mathews (35) to lead the rearguard action. They were finally dismissed for 312 after 46.2 overs.