Lasith Malinga celebrates the wicket of Brad Haddin

A spirited fightback from Sri Lanka's bowling attack saw the tourists claim a consolation CB one-day Series victory over Australia in Melbourne.

Batting first, Mahela Jayawardene (50) and Tillakaratne Dilshan (62) helped Sri Lanka reach 221 after a poor start.

Australia looked on course for the win as Adam Gilchrist (83) and James Hopes (28) put on 107 for the first wicket.

But they lost eight wickets for 101 runs, Ishara Amerasinghe (3-44) guiding Sri Lanka to a 13-run triumph.

Although there was little riding on the match for either side, Australia would have wanted to continue their winning run ahead of Sunday's first of three finals against India in Sydney.

Ricky Ponting's men had won their previous four games in the tournament and, despite losing the toss and being sent out to field, made a fine start as they reduced Sri Lanka to 61-4 inside 20 overs.

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Dilruwan Perera fell lbw to Brett Lee, Sanath Jayasuriya - playing his last match in Australia - was taken by Mike Hussey off Nathan Bracken, Kumar Sangakkara sliced to Hussey of Mitchell Johnson and Chamara Kapugedera edging James Hopes behind.

But the tourists, playing for pride alone, staged a spirited fightback with captain Jayawardene putting on 64 with Dilshan before being trapped by Brad Hogg.

Dilshan was run out on 62, while Lasith Malinga and Muttiah Muralitharan fell cheaply, but Chamara Silva and Nuwan Kulasekara helped Sri Lanka post a competitive total.

Australia were chasing for the first time since their opening match of the series and Ponting would have been hoping for a good showing ahead of the finals.

Gilchrist bid farewell to the MCG with his 55th ODI half-century

All looked to be going to plan as Gilchrist, playing at the MCG for the final time, produced a stunning 83 of 50 balls.

But six balls after Muralitharan bowled Hopes, Gilchrist was taken brilliantly by Malinga off Kulasekara at long-off and Australia collapsed.

Michael Clarke and Andrew Symonds both fell to Amerasinghe without scoring and, wedged between them, Ponting went lbw to Kulasekara for one.

Brad Haddin was trapped by Malinga, Hussey bowled by Kapugedera and Hogg, another bidding farewell to the MCG, succumbed to Muralitharan.

After Jayawardene produced a superb leap to collect Johnson's thick edge, Lee and Bracken put on 35 before, fittingly, Jayasuria bowled Lee with his first ball as Sri Lanka completed only their second win of the series with 11 balls to spare.

"We had a lot of opportunities in this tournament but we didn't take them.

"We have to learn to take them."

"Gilly struck the ball beautifully. He's showing some great form going into the finals.

"It's always painful when you lose, especially when you seemingly have the game in the bag like we did.

"Sri Lanka bowled well and took the chances when they came."