Australia beat Sri Lanka by 32 to even ODI series

Man-of-the-match Phil Hughes hit his second One-day International century on Wednesday to pull Australia level after the fifth and final match of the series against Sri Lanka.

The diminutive left-hander cracked 138 off 154 balls to help Australia post a winning total of 247 for five after being put in to bat.

Hughes, who became the first Australian to score a century on his ODI debut in the first game in Melbourne, nonetheless admitted he found the going hard.

"I know if you do get in it's something I pride myself on, to get that three-figure mark," he said. "When I got to 50-60 I was finding it tough to score, but I got a few at the back end."

Playing his last game as captain, Sri Lankan skipper Mahela Jayawardene sprung some surprises in fine weather at the Bellerive Oval.

He won the toss and put Australia in to bat on what looked a good wicket and threw off-spinner Tillakaratne Dilshan the new ball.

It was unorthodox but he was quickly rewarded with three maidens and an early wicket.

Dilshan found some unexpected grip and stunned David Warner, who pushed an outside edge onto off-stump with the score on 31. Warner made 10 off 18 balls.

There was little or no swing for Nuwan Kulasekara, who won the player of the series award after swinging the ball prodigiously in Brisbane and Sydney, but he had Matthew Wade out lbw for 23 after missing a straight one.

Australia, missing skipper Michael Clarke who failed a late fitness test on a twisted ankle, looked in trouble again with two wickets down for 37.

Sri Lanka had seized a 2-1 lead in the series on Friday, bowling out Australia for just 74 in Brisbane. The tourists had also looked favourites to win the fourth leg before a rain wash-out in Sydney on Sunday.

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