Sri Lanka were dismissed for 205 after being 32 for 5 while Australia also had trouble in their chase, falling to 38 for 3 before Marsh swung the game Australia’s way with 12 fours in his 110-ball stay. However, when Marsh fell to a brilliant diving catch from Rumesh Buddika, the left-arm spinner, his side was a nervous 171 for 6.
Hazlewood walked off with 26 still needed and Tom Triffitt, the wicketkeeper who had been so solid, fell with four still required when bowled by Charith Jayampathi (3 for 34) for a highly-valuable 50 off 70. Australia went 13 balls without a run before the scores were leveled and Luke Doran scampered the winning single after hitting to mid-off.
Australia won the World Cup in New Zealand in 2001-02 and have the chance to repeat their success against Pakistan, who beat West Indies, when they line up on Bert Sutcliffe Oval on Saturday. Sri Lanka will have to be satisfied with the third-place play-off.
