Tri-series: Australia beats Sri Lanka by 24 runs in rain-affected match

Stuart Clark and heavy rain helped Australia to a 24-run win over Sri Lanka on Friday, giving the home side a berth in the tri-series limited-overs cricket series final.

Clark took 2-8 in five overs, including Sri Lankan openers Dilruwan Perera lbw for 1 and Sanath Jayasuriya for a first-ball duck, as Sri Lanka could only manage 77 for four in 29.3 overs before persistent showers hit the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Australia was restricted to 184-7 in its innings after being sent in to bat when Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene won the toss.

The win with a bonus point gave Australia 22 points in the tri-series standings and a spot in the best-of-three finals series against either Sri Lanka or India.

Earlier, Sri Lanka looked like favorites to win the match when its bowlers, led by Farveez Maharoof's 2-20 in 10 overs, held Australia's total under 200.

Mike Hussey was Australia's top scorer with an unbeaten 64 and Michael Clarke hit 50, but Australia's other leading batsmen, including captain Ricky Ponting, failed again at the crease.

Muttiah Muralitharan chipped in with 2-37 in his 10 overs, while Chaminda Vaas added 1-44, including the vital wicket of opener Adam Gilchrist, bowled for 6.

Ponting's form slump continued when he was run out for 11. He went for a quick single as Maharoof fumbled the ball, but was sent back by Clarke.

Maharoof eventually picked up the ball and fired it to wicketkeeper Sangakkara, who whipped the bails off with Ponting still well short of his ground.

In six innings this series, Ponting has only scored 64 runs at 10.66.

Australia slumped to 54-4 before Clarke and Hussey gave the innings some substance with a fifth-wicket stand of 90.

The first four players dismissed Friday all featured in the India Premier League auction on Wednesday _ Andrew Symonds (4), Gilchrist, opener Matthew Hayden (23) and Ponting. Together, the four made 44 runs.

Australia plays India in Sydney on Sunday.