Sangakkara and Dilshan hit a fifty each as Sri Lanka thrashed Australia by 6 wickets to end their T20 World Cup campaign at Trent Bridge in Nottingham.Having lost to West Indies on Saturday, Australia are eliminated, while Sri Lanka booked a place in the Super 8 phase of the competition.

Late wickets from Brett Lee gave Australia hope, but just as the momentum appeared to be shifting he conceded a crucial six to Jehan Mubarak that just eluded the fielder on the boundary.

Needing just one run to win off the last over, Sri Lanka reached its target when Johnson bowled a wide.Earlier, Ajantha Mendis took three wickets as Sri Lanka restricted Australia to 159-9.Mendis took 3-20 in the game.Mitchell Johnson came to Australia’s rescue with a free-hitting 28 of 13 balls, after his colleagues had been befuddled by Mendis, while some strong striking from Brett Lee means Australia aren’t finished just yet.

However, the added problem for them, because of their pounding against West Indies, is that not only do they have to win but also with a considerable margin to boost their net run-rate and their total doesn’t give much breathing space with the ball. Yet, at 94 for 6 in the 15th over it appeared they would fade away, but Johnson added 41 in 21 balls with David Hussey and the last five overs brought 65 to give the bowlers something to work with.

Kumar Sangakkara sprang an early surprise by opening the bowling with Angelo Mathews on his Twenty20 international debut and the move worked perfectly when David Warner carved his third ball to point. Sri Lanka had gambled by leaving out two frontline seamers in Nuwan Kulasekara and Farveez Maharoof knowing that spin would play a crucial role.

Ricky Ponting, who fell first ball against West Indies, responded by opening his account with an elegant back-foot drive off Sanath Jayasuriya (another surprise package with the new ball) then had an element of luck as he inside edged past his stumps off Mathews. He and Shane Watson put their foot down as the fourth and fifth overs brought 15 runs apiece with Watson launching Isuru Udana for two fours and six and Ponting lacing Malinga for a trio of boundaries.

However, inside the Powerplay, Mendis was handed the ball and the game changed. He could have had Waston leg before with his first ball as he was beaten by one turning from leg to off, but with the final ball of a brilliant over he uprooted Ponting’s legstump as the captain backed away.

In his next over Mendis nailed Watson on the sweep and the new batsmen were prodding and poking uncertainly against his multitude of variations. As if to show the riches at Sangakkara’s disposal, Muttiah Muralitharan didn’t bowl until the tenth over and had the luxury of confronting batsmen unable to free their arms until his figures were dented by Johnson.

Malinga’s first over had been expensive, but he is an irresistible cricketer who can produce wonderful moments and a superbly disguised slower ball made Brad Haddin look foolish as it dipped late and took out two stumps.

Captains can often be left scratching their heads in Twenty20, but today everything Sangakkara tried work perfectly. He brought back Udana and the young left-armer produced a classy slower-ball that Michael Clarke could only chip back down the pitch.

David Hussey, who had spoken about taking over Andrew Symonds’ role, managed a huge six but his brother, Michael, was not so fortunate when he was trapped by one that turned back into him quickly off the surface. The next over proved Australia’s best of the innings as Muralitharan was taken for 21 with Johnson launching two huge slow-swept sixes over deep midwicket and it signalled a revival.

Hussey also cleared long-on against Udana before providing a steepling catch to point off the next ball. Lee didn’t hang around as he swung his first delivery into the stands and clubbed 15 off five deliveries before Malinga showed his value at the death. Australia’s quicks have given themselves something to defend, but they’ll need to be at their best or one of the pre-tournament favourites will be heading out early.