Sri Lanka losing a series at home is a rare event, so it was with nothing but honor at stake as they went into the fifth and final game of the ODI series against Australia. Only one time in the previous four games had their batting come together, and whether or not Australia is in transition of any kind, scores of 191, 208 and 132 wouldn't even trouble the West Indies.

Mindful of their poor starts with the bat, Tillekeratne Dilshan put Australia in to field. The tactic paid off, as the first over, from Lasith Malinga, was a maiden, and Shaminda Eranga almost had Shaun Marsh caught at gully before simply cleaning him up at the end of the second over. Malinga almost had Shane Watson gone the next over, but overstepped as Watto edged to Kumar Sangakkara off a no-ball. Instead of being 4/2, Watson and Ricky Ponting repaired the early damage, bringing up the 50 partnership.

Things were looking good for the visitors until a well-set and in-form Ponting was deceived by an Angelo Mathews slower ball, and fell for 31. Australia's good progress stalled at 71/2, as the loss of the wicket and introduction of the spinners slowed the run rate. Watson got things moving with a 6 and a 4 off Jeevan Mendis, eventually reaching his half-century and taking the score over 100. Watson and Michael Clarke put on another recovery before Ajantha Mendis removed Watson for 56 at 127/3. Seekkuge Prasanna got Michael Hussey cheaply, but Clarke played a patient and controlled innings, guiding (with David Hussey) Australia over 150. On 47, though, he was stumped off Eranga, and the game was on even footing at 167/5.

David Hussey got the total over 200 before being bowled by Ajantha Mendis for a valuable 46. 210/6 in 44 overs, Australia still in a good position. Then Malinga castled Mitchell Johnson, trapped John Hastings in front, and blew away Xavier Doherty the next over in a hat-trick, Malinga's third and the most number of hat-tricks by a single bowler in international cricket. Ajantha Mendis did the honors by removing Brad Haddin as Australia collapsed from 210/6 to 211 all out.

With the wind completely sucked out of them, Australia still got off to a good defense of their target, Mitchell Johnson removing Upul Tharanga in the first over of the Sri Lankan chase. James Pattinson struck the next over, removing the big fish Kumar Sangakkara, as Sri Lanka slumped to 12/2. Dilshan was typicall quick, but made only 17, and at 34/3, Australia were on top. Mahela Jayawardene and Chamara Silva, of all people, steadied the ship, taking SL past 50.

The small target undoubtedly helped the batsmen pace their chase. The 100 came up with the 15th wide of the innnings, and Silva rubbed the salt in with a 6 and 4 off Xavier Doherty. He reached an important 50* the next over. With the team at almost double the required run rate, Silva fell to Doherty for good 63.

There was a brief rain delay before play resumed with no time lost. Jayawardene reached his own half-century as he and Angelo Mathews used the abundant time left in the chase to get some batting practice in. He was eventually dismissed for 71, and Mathews for 26, but Sri Lanka made it over the finish line to win by 4 wickets, with Australia taking the series 3-2.

Bittersweet victory for Sri Lanka - Malinga's unparalleled feat won't do them any good in the Test series, since he won't be a part of the squad, and Chamara Silva's timely knock wasn't enough to save Sri Lanka from a series loss.

Australia won't sweat too much about how Malinga tore through their lower middle order, but they will wonder how they didn't finish Sri Lanka off at 34/3. Still, Michael Clarke won't mind passing his first major test as Australia's captain after the Ricky Ponting-era; and despite the loss in this game, it's Australia who go into the Test series with the bigger smiles on their faces.

Australia: 211 all out (Shane Watson 56, Lasith Malinga 8-2-35-3) in 46.1 overs, at 4.57 runs an over

Sri Lanka: 213/6 (Mahela Jayawardene 71*, James Pattinson 10-1-41-2) in 47 overs, at 4.53 runs an over

Sri Lanka win by 4 wickets; Australia win the series 3-2

Man of the Match: Lasith Malinga

Man of the Series: Michael Clarke