Australia cruised to their third VB Series victory after Darren Lehmann smashed a century against Sri Lanka in Perth.

Darren Lehmann celebrated his promotion up the batting order as Australia reached 305 for five.

The tourists slumped to 25 for three in the 11th over, and soon lost their way, eventually bowled out for just 163.

VB Series table

Australia P3 W3 L0 BP2 Pts17 England P4 W2 L2 BP1 Pts12 Sri Lanka P3 W0 L3 BP1 Pts1

The Australian total was the second-highest total ever at Perth, just short of the 309 for six made by West Indies, also against Sri Lanka, in 1984/85.

Lehmann's 119 was his highest one-day score for his country and his first century on home soil.

He shared a 162-run opening partnership with Matthew Hayden, who contributed 64 with four fours and a six.

Lehmann hit his first ton at home

There was a slight wobble when Ricky Ponting, Lehmann and Damien Martyn were all dismissed in the space of four overs.

Paceman Prabath Nissanka accounted for all three, Lehmann playing on with an attempted cut.

Ryan Campbell, in as wicket-keeper while Adam Gilchrist rests a groin injury could only manage a cameo 16.

But Michael Bevan and Shane Watson pressed the accelerator again with an unbroken stand of 52 in the final seven overs.

It is always good to get runs, especially leading into a Boxing Day Test Darren Lehmann

Bevan finished 40 not out from 41 deliveries, while all-rounder Watson was unbeaten on 25.

Needing to score at more than six per over to stay in the hunt, Sri Lanka were in trouble from the off.

Brett Lee, opening the bowling with Jason Gillespie rested, picked up opener Sanath Jayasuriya for three.

Fast delivery

Lee was recorded at 97.6mph - one of the fastest deliveries ever recorded in Australia - during a fiery six-over opening spell.

Glenn McGrath accounted for Marvan Atapattu, caught off an inside edge and Jehan Mubarak, taken by Matthew Hayden at gully.

After a short break for rain, Lehmann got into the act again with a diving catch to dismiss Mahela Jayawardene off his own bowling.

It will need a terrific improvement by a number of players to make an impression Sri Lanka coach Dav Whatmore

And Brad Hogg, in for the injured Shane Warne, picked up his first international wicket for seven years when Russel Arnold got a leading edge off the left-arm wrist-spinner

Kumar Sangakkara, with 35, and Romesh Kaluwitharana, salvaged some face with a 78-run sixth-wicket partnership.

But at no time did they look like raising the pace to the required heights, both men caught in the deep off Shane Watson.

Lee returned to dismiss Chaminda Vaas and Dilhara Fernando with successive deliveries.

And, although Pulashti Gunaratne survived the hat-trick delivery, he edged Watson behind to finish the match with seven overs remaining.

Australia: Ricky Ponting (capt), Darren Lehmann (vice-capt), Matthew Hayden, Damien Martyn, Michael Bevan, Ryan Campbell (wkt), Shane Watson, Brad Hogg, Brett Lee, Glenn McGrath, Andy Bichel.

Sri Lanka: Sanath Jayasuriya (capt), Marvan Atapattu, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Russel Arnold, Jehan Mubarak, Romesh Kaluwitharana, Chaminda Vaas, Prabath Nissanka, Pulasthi Gunaratne, Dilhara Fernando.