Kasprowicz repaid the selectors for his surprise call-up

Michael Kasprowicz produced his best one-day performance for Australia as they clinched overall victory in the five-match series in Sri Lanka.

Kasprowicz took 5-45 as the World Cup holders won by 40 runs in Colombo to take an unassailable 3-1 lead.

Australia were bowled out for 233 despite half centuries from Ricky Ponting (67) and Andrew Symonds (53).

Kumar Sangakkara hit 101 off 110 balls in reply but Sri Lanka collapsed and were all out for 193 in the 44th over.

It was a typically efficient performance in the field by Australia.

Wicket-keeper Adam Gilchrist took six catches in a one-day international for the third time to equal the record he shares with England's Alec Stewart.

Muttiah Muralitharan (3-44) and Upul Chandana (3-37) bowled well for Sri Lanka, but their performance was overshadowed by Kasprowicz, who fully justified his selection ahead of Brett Lee and Brad Williams.

SIX CATCHES IN ODI INNINGS A Gilchrist Australia v South Africa, Cape Town 2000 A Stewart England v Zimbabwe, Old Trafford 2000 A Gilchrist Australia v Namibia, Potchefstroom 2003 A Gilchrist Australia v Sri Lanka, Colombo 2004

Given the responsibility of taking the new ball, he dismissed Sanath Jayasuriya for nought with his second delivery, and later struck the vital blow by ending Sangakkara's tremendous innings, which included 15 boundaries.

He then took three wickets in the space of five balls in the 43rd over, dismissing Chandana, Chaminda Vaas and Kaushal Lokuarachchi to take Australia to the brink of victory.

The tourists went into the game with an unchanged side after opening batsman Matthew Hayden passed a fitness test on a knee problem.

Sri Lanka made two changes with Lokuarachchi and debutant Saman Jayantha coming in for Kumar Dharmasena and Russel Arnold.

Muralitharan (right) needs two more wickets to pass 350 in one-dayers

Ponting chose to bat first after winning the toss and his partnership with Symonds repaired the damage after Australia had been reduced to 62-3.

The Australian captain hit two sixes and eight fours before falling lbw to Muralitharan from the final ball of the 28th over.

Symonds reached his half century off 72 balls, a subdued performance by his standards, but was caught by Jayantha with the total on 177.

Michael Clarke was the only other batsman to pass 20, reaching 36 off 32 balls before hitting Chandana to mid-wicket as they were all out with 14 balls of their innings remaining.

Sri Lanka were rocked back on their heels by Jayasuriya's early dismissal but Sangakkara found his timing right from the start of his innings as he dominated a second wicket stand of 80 with Marvan Atapattu.

Left-arm wrist spinner Brad Hogg removed Atapattu for 19 but Sangakkara put on 63 with Mahela Jayawardene before Jason Gillespie picked up the latter's wicket, caught by Gilchrist for 25 as he tried to square cut.

It began a collapse which saw four wickets go down for 15 runs and although Cahnadana (13) and Lokuarachchi (18) held Australia up for seven overs, Kasprowicz's three-wicket burst ended the match as a contest.

He was denied a chance of a sixth wicket, however, as Hogg had Zoysa lbw for one to bring the game to an end.

Sri Lanka: Marvan Atapattu (captain), Sanath Jayasuriya, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Tillekeratne Dilshan, Saman Jayantha, Kaushal Lokuarachchi, Upul Chandana, Chaminda Vaas, Nuwan Zoysa, Muttiah Muralitharan.

Australia: Ricky Ponting (captain), Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden, Damien Martyn, Michael Bevan, Michael Clarke, Andrew Symonds, Ian Harvey, Brad Hogg, Jason Gillespie, Michael Kasprowicz.