Ponting stars in Aussie win

Hayden and Ponting shared a record partnership

VB Series, Melbourne. Australia 215-1 (34.3 overs) beat Sri Lanka 214-8 (50 overs) by nine wickets

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Captain Ricky Ponting warmed up for the VB Series finals with an unbeaten century to lead Australia to a nine-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in Melbourne.

With the hosts and England already confirmed as finalists for the best-of-three series, which begins on Thursday, the match had little significance.

But Ponting and Matthew Hayden made sure that a sizeable crowd were still entertained.

Final VB Series table

Australia P8 W7 L1 BP3 Pts38 RR0.73

England P8 W3 L5 BP1 Pts20 RR-0.02

Sri Lanka P8 W2 L6 BP1 Pts14 RR-0.71

The pair - who both sat out Sunday's win over England - clubbed a record second wicket partnership against Sri Lanka, an unbroken 178.

Ponting's 11th one-day international century, and his second against Sri Lanka, came from just 94 deliveries on his way to 106 not out.

Hayden was not to be out-shone, clubbing successive sixes off-spinner Aravinda de Silva on his way to 80 not out off 87 balls.

Pictures from the MCG

The pair came together once opener Adam Gilchrist was dismissed for 23, bowled by Chaminda Vaas in the seventh over.

And Ponting took the man-of-the-match award as the pair steered Australia home with 15 overs to spare.

De Silva still confident for World Cup

Earlier, Australia's second string bowling attack restricted Sri Lanka to just 214 for eight.

Touring captain Marvan Atapattu, standing in for the resting Sanath Jayasuriya, won the toss and decided to bat but the visitors were unable to cut loose.

De Silva passed 9000 one-day international runs

Avishka Gunawardene top-scored with 45 before becoming one of three wickets for Brad Hogg, the pick of the Australian bowlers.

Hogg also held a sharp chance at mid-wicket as Andy Bichel ended an opening stand of 64 by removing Atapattu.

Kumar Sangakkara made 43 before falling to wrist-spinner Hogg while De Silva chipped in with 44 before holing out in the penultimate over.

De Silva passed 9000 one-day international runs in the process, and raised his bat to the crowd as he departed, acknowledging his final innings in Melbourne.

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Australia: Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Bevan, Andy Bichel, Nathan Bracken, Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden, Brad Hogg, Jimmy Maher, Andrew Symonds, Shane Watson, Brad Williams, Jason Gillespie (12th man).

Sri Lanka: Marvan Atapattu (capt), Russel Arnold, Aravinda de Silva, Chamila Gamage, Avishka Gunawardena, Mahela Jayawardene, Jehan Mubarak, Prabath Nissanka, Kumar Sangakkara, Hashan Tillakaratne, Chaminda Vaas, Charitha Buddhika (12th man).

Umpires: Daryl Harper (Australia), Russell Tiffin (Zimbabwe)