Ricky Ponting and Matthew Hayden tore the Sri Lankan bowling apart to help Australia record a crushing nine–wicket win in today's VB Series dead rubber in Melbourne.
Both Ponting and Hayden sat out Sunday's four–wicket win over England, but they showed no sign of rustiness as Australia easily passed Sri Lanka's miserly 214 for eight for the loss of only Adam Gilchrist.
Australia skipper Ponting led the way with a thrilling unbeaten 106 while opener Hayden bludgeoned four sixes in his 80 not out.
The duo put on an unbroken stand of 178, a record second–wicket partnership for Australia against Sri Lanka.
The win was Australia's seventh in eight VB Series matches and they will meet England in the three–match final, starting in Sydney in Thursday.
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