Odishatv Bureau
Brisbane: A woeful India out of the equation, Australia and Sri Lanka will battle it out in best-of-three finals with the spirited islanders well-equipped to upstage the hosts in the summit clashes starting tomorrow.

Mahela Jayawardene and his men have beaten Australia in three straight games and what`s more, have bowled them out thrice which should matter more now that the first final is on a pacy and bouncy strip.

Lasith Malinga is obviously the spearhead of Lankan ambitions and his slinging action has claimed 14 scalps so far in the tournament. He recorded his series best of 4-49 on Friday night to secure a thrilling nine-run win for his team in Melbourne and a passage to the finals.

Nuwan Kulasekara has been a source of strength at the other end with nine victims at an economy rate of 4.89 in the tournament. Angelo Mathews (7) and Thisara Perera (9) have been more than adequate support at the other end though the latter will not be there tomorrow due to injury suffered in last night`s match.

Left-arm spinner Rangana Herath has been outstanding with his economy rate of 4.17 in six matches even though he has had no more than three wickets. He conceded 43 runs in his 10 overs for the wicket of James Pattinson in Melbourne.

Sri Lanka`s strength has been the solidity of their top order with all the top four looking more than good with the bat.

Young Dinesh Chandimal has been in fine nick with 383 runs at 63.83 average and a strike rate of 82.36. Every second innings of his in the tournament have been a score in excess of 50 runs.

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