COLOMBO, 28 September – Hosts Sri Lanka exploded the myth of Australia’s invincibility as they brought their mighty batsmen to their knees and majestically marched into the final of the ICC Champions Trophy here yesterday.

World champions Australia were a pale shadow of their normal cavalier selves as their susceptibility to spin was thoroughly exposed and they were skittled out for 162 — their lowest total against Sri Lanka. The Lankans, needing to score at 3.26 runs an over for a win, coasted home by seven wickets, scoring 163 for three with 10 overs to spare. Contributions from Marvan Atapattu (51), Kumar Sangakkara (48) and Sanath Jayasuriya (42) paved the way for the home team’s win. And fittingly, Man of the Match Aravinda de Silva hit the winning runs after he had emerged the best bowler for his team and applied the brakes to the Australian innings as it had threatened to get out of control on a pitch helping spinners from quite early in the day. Their opponents in the final tomorrow will be India who had beaten South Africa earlier in the first semifinal on Wednesday. This is Sri Lanka’s first appearance in the final of the event.

Jayasuriya was obviously elated at his team’s performance. “The wicket was slow. That was because already so many matches have been played on it,” he said after the match. When asked why he brought on the spinners so early, he said: “I wanted to begin with the spinners.”

Aravinda said he was always happy to be part of a plan that results in the team’s win. He said his appearance in the final will probably the last time that he will play in front of the home fans. “I don’t want to go for the World Cup because I want youngsters to be given a chance,” he said.

Australian captain Ricky Ponting admitted that they were outplayed in every department of the game but he complained about the pitch. “It was the most disappointing show by us for a long time. It was not the ideal one-day wicket as it turned from early on,” Ponting said. He said his batsmen’s inability to play spinners was the main cause of their defeat.

With a small total to defend and Jayasuriya in fine fettle, the Australian bowlers toiled hard. The Lankans crossed the 50-mark in 11.3 overs as Jayasuriya cut and drove to the fence, with Atapattu proving an ideal foil by letting his skipper do all the damage. The Lankan running between the wickets was far superior and put a lot of pressure on the fielders. But Shane Warne struck a vital blow by dismissing Jayasuriya as he played for the leg break to a straight ball and was bowled for 42. He had smashed six fours and faced 51 balls. At 67 for one, the chase was on in earnest.

Warne troubled the Lankans continuously and Atapattu was dropped in the slip off successive deliveries when on 25. Kumar Sangakkara and Atapattu toook Sri Lanka past the century mark in 22.2 overs, with Sangakkara doing most of the damage. But Sangakkara fell just two short of his half century as McGrath induced an edge and he was caught behind. He added 75 in 117 deliveries for the second wicket with Atapattu.

Scoring at more than four runs an over, it was then a matter of time before the Sri Lankans reached their target. This was the 44th clash between the two teams, Australia having won 28, Sri Lanka 14 and two no results. The two had never met before in this tournament. As expected, the Australians were given a fluent start by the mercurial Adam Gilchrist. He drove and lofted over the infield to give Australia a rate of seven runs per over.

As he treated both Vaas and Gunaratne with customary nonchalance, the think-tank of the Sri Lankan team had a conclave and what they decided totally transformed the complexion of the game. The decision was to introduce spin after just five overs. Consequently Dharmasena came in for Gunaratne who had bowled just two overs and Vaas made way for Aravinda de Silva after only three overs. Better known as a batsman, Aravinda did a Sehwag for Lanka as he made the batsmen virtually dance with his prodigious spin. Having Hayden in all sorts of trouble with his first four balls, Aravinda ended his misery by upsetting his castle as he stepped out to drive and totally misjudged the line. His stand of 49 with Gilchrist proved to be the most productive and came off 41 balls.

The most crucial blow was struck by Dharmasena who forced Gilchrist to misdrive to be easily caught at midoff without any addition to the total and Australia had lost two wickets in three balls. Gilchrist struck six fours in his 31 which came off only 24 balls.

Vaas was brought back from the other end and met with immediate success as he trapped Ponting leg before after the decision was referred to the third umpire. Australia had lost their third wicket with only 56 on the board.

The Australians could not really recover from these successive blows on a pitch that was offering a lot of turn and the bowlers were backed by top class fielding which gave nothing away. The Sri Lankans’ pickup and throw was unbelievable as they pounced on the streaking ball and threw in the same action. Two direct hits resulted in two run outs. First Jayasuriya struck when Lehmann was sent back by Damien Martyn and failed to make his ground.

Martyn and Michael Bevan tried to steady the innings as they shared a partnership of 39 in 76 balls with run rate having fallen below four runs an over. They were separated by an excellent piece of fielding by Russell Arnold who hit the stumps at the nonstriker’s end from a difficult angle. Martyn’s 28 contained four boundaries and came from 47 deliveries.

Bevan’s patience uncharacteristically ran out as he attempted a mighty heave off Dharmasena to be caught at midwicket and Australia’s cup of woe was full to the brim at 97 for six.

Now it was the long Australian tail which had to battle for survival. Credit must be given to Shane Warne who put his head down and though he lost his namesake Watson at 107, in Brett Lee he found an able partner.

When Lee lost his stumps to Jayasuriya, he and Warne had taken Australia past the 150 mark. Murali, who was taken off after two overs when Martyn hit him for two consecutive boundaries, came back and ended Warne’s excellent innings.

Warne stepped out and missed and though Sangakkara fumbled, he covered well in time to stump him.