Sydney: Australia, powered by centuries from skipper Ricky Ponting and Andrew Symonds, defeated Sri Lanka by 167 runs to level the three-match triangular One-Day series final at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday.
There was always going to be only one winner after the Australians amassed their highest-ever ODI total of 368 for five off 50 overs.
The Sri Lankans found it a far too difficult assignment and succumbed to be all out for 201 off just 36 overs.
Coming together at a perilous 10 for three after the first 18 balls, Ponting clobbered 124 off 127 balls and Symonds pounded the highest One-Day innings of 151 off 127 balls at the ground to surpass Australia's all-wicket partnership record with 237.
In a day of records, Australia's 368 for five also bettered the previous highest innings of 359, set twice against India in the 2003 World Cup final in Johannesburg and two years ago in Sydney.
Ponting and Symonds surpassed Australia's previous best ODI stand of 234 between Ponting and Damien Martyn for the third wicket in the 2003 World Cup final against India.
Australia now take winning momentum into Tuesday's deciding third final at Brisbane's Gabba ground.
The last time a team came from losing the opening final in the tri-series was in 1994 when Australia beat South Africa in the final two matches.
Another record was created, though its holder would not like to be remembered for it, when Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan endured one of his most miserable days ever with the ball returning the worst 10-over spell in One-Day cricket history.
The world's second-greatest Test wicket-taker, went through for 0-99 as Australia powered to its highest ever One-Day international score of 368 for five and a 167-run win in the second triangular One-Day series final at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Only New Zealand's Martin Snedden has conceded more runs in a One-Day international, but his 2-105 was off 12 overs in the 60-over World Cup in 1983.
To cap a bitter-sweet day for the 33-year-old Murali, he claimed his highest ODI score of 27 off 24 balls with two boundaries and two sixes to go with his worst-ever bowling analysis.
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Australia, stunned by their 22-run loss to the Sri Lankans in the opening final in Adelaide last Friday, were in trouble early on, losing the wickets of Adam Gilchrist (0), Simon Katich (1) and Martyn (8), all to the swing of left-arm pacer Chaminda Vaas.
But Ponting and Symonds combined to snatch the match away from the Sri Lankans with their overpowering partnership.
Ponting scored his 19th ODI century, passing Mark Waugh's 18 as the most by an Australian, while Symonds hit his fourth ODI century and first in Australia.
The dreadlocked all-rounder, who belted 156 off 127 balls with eight sixes against New Zealand in Wellington last December, plundered 13 fours and three sixes off the hapless Sri Lankan bowlers.
Symonds also claimed the highest ODI score on the ground, surpassing India's Yuvraj Singh's 139 against Australia on January 22, 2004. He fell just 22 runs short of Mark Waugh's national mark of 173.
It was a stunning about-turn after Vaas claimed the big wicket of Gilchrist with his second ball, caught by Tillekeratne Dilshan at point and he was joined by fellow opener Katich, who was LBW for one.
Martyn soon followed, caught at slip by Mahela Jayawardene, after hitting two boundaries, leaving the Aussies shellshocked at 10 for three.
Michael Clarke rounded off the innings with an unbeaten 54 off 28 balls and with Mike Hussey (23 off eight balls) put of 48 for the unfinished sixth wicket.
Vaas finished with 4-56 off 10 overs.
Once Sri Lanka lost their top four batsmen -- Sanath Jayasuriya (0), Kumar Sangakkara (13), Marvan Atapattu (24) and Jayawardene (50 off 48 balls) -- they were always struggling in the face of Australia's massive total.
Russel Arnold hit out lustily at the death to finish an unbeaten 64 off 62 balls.
Left-arm seamer Nathan Bracken claimed 4-30 off six overs, while Symonds and left-arm spinner Brad Hogg took two wickets each.
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