Australia 4-5 for Ashes after sixth loss in a row

 By Max Oram 12:52AM 4 NOV 2010 AUSTRALIA have been eased to 4-5 to win back the Ashes after Sri Lanka extended their form trough to six straight defeats across all formats with Wednesday's stunning one-wicket win in Melbourne.

RELATED LINKS Free bet Bet In-Play now Win Premier Leaguetickets  But sensational rather than freak or terminal is how the MCG result should be considered.

Sri Lanka were matched at a high of 80 on Betdaq, while the Gold and Greens traded at 1.01 before Angelo Mathews and Lasith Malinga embarked on their record 50-over eighth wicket partnership that took them from 107-8 to level scores on 239.

And there were decent knocks for Mike Hussey and Brad Haddin while debutant left-arm spinner Xavier Doherty took 4-46.

Kumar Sangakkara's men are now 4-7 from 2-1 to win the series which continues in Sydney on Friday while Austrlia are 6-4 from 1-2 to secure the spoils in Brisbane on Sunday.

However, the Australians, with Ricky Ponting set to return to the side after a rest and then a family funeral, are 8-11 to triumph at the SCG. Sri Lanka are 11-8.

Conditions have been surprisingly wet in recent weeks in Sydney and showers are on plenty of forecasts again.

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