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Sri Lanka's nail-biting nine-run victory over Australia in the crucial last league match of the ODI tri-series in Melbourne on Friday meant India bowed out of the tournament.
An Australian triumph would have paved the way for India's entry into the best-of-three finals, starting Sunday, while Sri Lanka needed to win or tie the match to get to the summit against the already-qualified hosts.
Daniel Christian and James Pattinson had earlier shared nine wickets between them to help Australia dismiss Sri Lanka for a modest 238.
In reply, the hosts were shot out for 229.
Opting to bat first, it was a wobbly start to the proceedings for the islanders as they lost their openers with less than 20 runs on the scoreboard.
Skipper Mahela Jayawardene (5) was the first to head to the dressing room, run-out by David Hussey in only the second over of the day.
It was Tillakaratne Dilshan who called for a very risky single and Jayawardene responded after some hesitation.
Hussey, at second slip, pounced on the ball with one hand and managed a direct hit, catching Jayawardene well out out of his crease.
Sangakkara's 68th ODI fifty was patience personified
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Dilshan did not last long either, with comeback pacer James Pattinson getting his scalp after the right-hander had contributed merely nine runs to the total.
Dilshan was surprised by a bouncy one that caught him on the backfoot and ended up giving a thin edge through to Matthew Wade behind the stumps.
Sri Lanka were reeling at 17-2 at this stage.
But the Lankans started the rebuilding job soon enough with the experienced Sangakkara and exciting new talent Chandimal joining hands for an entertaining third-wicket partnership of 123.
Sangakkara was the perfect foil to the natural aggression of Chandimal as the duo stitched together a crucial stand that resurrected the Lankan innings.
Sangakkara's knock came off 93 deliveries during which he struck three boundaries before Pattinson induced a top edge off his bat that was caught by Peter Forrest at deep square leg off the final delivery of the 29th over.
Chandimal continues with his impressive run of form
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Dinesh Chandimal struck a fluent 75.
It was his seventh ODI fifty, his fourth in the ongoing CB tri-series.
Chandimal held fort for quite a while and even got a life in a bizzare manner - when he was run-out, but television replays showed Hilfenhaus's feet had touched the ground when he threw the ball -- during the course of his innings which was studded with three fours and a couple of sixes.
He was eventually dismissed by Pattinson, caught at mid-off by Clint McKay while trying to strike one down the ground.
Lahiru Thirimanne held one end with a gritty 59-ball 51 that included a couple of boundaries but he could take his side through to the end.
Pattinson picks career-best haul
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James Pattinson picked four wickets, conceding 51 runs in his 10 overs.
It was his career-best bowling figures.
The rookie accounted for four of the top five Sri Lankan batsmen.
With captain Shane Watson using him intelligently in short spells, Pattinson accounted for Dilshan in his first spell, before dismissing Sangakkara, Chandimal and Thirimanne in his subsequent spells.
Christian only the fourth Aussie to take an ODI hat-trick
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Daniel Christian too sparkled, claiming a hat-trick during a career-best five-wicket burst.
Playing in only his eighth ODI, the 28-year-old's hat-trick in the 44th over was the highlight of the first session's play. The batsmen that fell victim to him in the 'trick' were Thisara Perera (5), Sachithra Senanayke (0) and Nuwan Kulasekara (0).
It was only the fourth hat-trick by an Australian, and 30th overall, in one-dayers.
The right-arm pacer ended the day with impressive match figures of five for 31 in nine overs.
Watson notched up his 26th ODI fifty
Australia were reeling at 26 for three -- having lost Matthew Wade (9), Dave Warner (6) and Peter Forrest (2) -- when captain Shane Watson took the onus upon himself.
The stand-in skipper scored 65 runs, his 83-ball innings comprising of five hits to the fence.
It was 26th ODI fifty, but only his third against Sri Lanka.
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Mike Hussey played a good supporting role
Watson and Mike Hussey steadied the chase with a 87-run partnership for the fourth wicket.
The match was looking like going Australia way but Lahiru Thrimanne broke the stand by scalping Hussey (29).
Hussey was out caught behind.
Malinga was the star performer this time
Lasith Malinga, who had a horrendous last match against India, was the star performer this time as he picked four wickets including that of Watson, David Warner (6) and Peter Forrest (2).
He also accounted for Xavier Doherty (7).
Malinga finished with impressive figures of four for 49 off his 10 overs.
David Hussey's fighting 74 went in vain
David Hussey's fighting 74 was another bright spot in the Australian innings.
The younger Hussey continued with his good form in the tournament and was playing well from one end but was running out of partners with Watson, Daniel Christian (3) and James Patinson (12) departing early. He fought hard with his fighting knock and was the last man dismissed.
In the nerve-wrecking final moments of the game, Australia needed 10 runs in the last over off Nuwan Kulasekara but David Hussey's mighty heave was caught by Tillakaratne Dilshan at long-off to trigger off wild celebrations in the Sri Lankan camp.
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