Despite a hat-trick by Australian allrounder James Faulkner, Sri Lanka have set a big victory target of 289 in Wednesday's second one-day international in Colombo.
Faulkner, who claimed career-best figures of 4-38 on Sunday, took the wickets of Angelo Matthews and Kusal Perera in separate overs late in the innings, before clean bowling Thisara Perera to become the sixth Australian to achieve the feat in an ODI.
But by then, the damage had been done as Sri Lanka eventually eclipsed their highest total at home against Australia.
Kusal Mendis followed up his half-century on Sunday with a run-a-ball 69, sharing an impressive 125-run partnership for the third wicket with Dinesh Chandimal (48).
Some late hitting from captain Matthews, who scored 57 from 60 deliveries, including two sixes, and Perera (54 from 53), pushed along the scoring in a 103-run sixth-wicket partnership with Sri Lanka eventually bowled out after 48.5 overs.
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It could have been far worse for Australia with the home side scoring at nearly six an over midway through the innings, only for legspinner Adam Zampa (3-42) to put the brakes on with some crucial wickets.
Sri Lanka won an important toss but were on the back foot at 2-12 as Mitchell Starc (3-53) broke through in the first over for the second successive match, while offspinner Nathan Lyon struck in his second over after opening the bowling from the other end.
The Aussies, who were outclassed in the recent 3-0 Test series defeat, won the opening ODI on Sunday after scraping home by three wickets under lights at the same R Premadasa Stadium.
