Australia dismissed Sri Lanka for 312 to clinch a 64 run victory in a Pool A match in Sydney a short while ago.

Chasing a huge target of 377 runs, riding on Sangakkara brilliant century and Dilshan belligerent knock, Sri Lanka was on course for a thrilling victory over Australia. But the dismissal of Sangakkara and Dilshan put the breaks on the run chase and Australia took it from there and dismissed Sri Lanka for 312.

Another blow to Sri Lankan run-chase was the injury to Dinesh Chandimal. Chandimal scored a quickfire 52 off just 24 balls with 8 fours and a huge six.

Earlier, all-rounder Glenn Maxwell led a brutal Australian assault with his maiden ODI hundred as the four-time champions posted a mammoth 376 for nine against a hapless Sri Lanka side in a pool A match of the ICC cricket World Cup in Sydney on Sunday.

Skipper Michael Clarke (68), Steve Smith (72) and Shane Watson (67) showed rampaging form during the course of their fifties as Australia sent the Lankans on a leather hunt in front of a packed house.

For the hapless Lankans, pace spearhead Lasith Malinga was the only bowler to hold his own with figures of 2/59 in his quota of 10 overs.

The Aussies, left rattled by a one-wicket loss to New Zealand in their previous match, came out all guns blazing today and even though explosive opener David Warner (9) was out early, the hosts simply decimated the Sri Lankan bowling.

For the Lankans, Thisara Perera also picked up a couple of wickets in his nine overs but they cost a whopping 87 runs.

(With inputs from PTI)