A top order collapse has left Australia struggling at 4-116 after 25 overs in their Commonwealth Bank Series match against Sri Lanka at the WACA Ground.
The hosts lost Matthew Wade and Ricky Ponting for one in the first five overs and opener David Warner fell for a quick-fire 34, before Michael Hussey was dismissed for 10 to leave Australia in a big hole at 4-81 in the 19th over.
Michael Clarke (31 not out off 53 balls) and David Hussey, unbeaten with 22 off 27 at the 25-over mark, were left to build an Australian recovery after Nuwan Kulasekara helped put Sri Lanka on top in the third match of the one-day international tri-series.
The 29-year-old paceman had 2-23 off seven overs halfway through Australia's innings, rewarding Mahela Jayawardene's decision to bowl first with an impressive spell.
All-rounder Angelo Mathews had 1-13 off five overs, while Lasith Malinga unleashed a ferocious new ball spell where he took 1-29 from his four.
While Australia's scoring rate was good, their wicket situation could have been even worse had Upul Tharanga not dropped David Hussey for three off recalled spinner Sachithra Senanayake.
The home side made a quick start largely off the bat of Warner, who scored 20 runs from his first 13 balls, but he lost opening partner Wade when the wicketkeeper stuck his bat out a swinging Kulasekara delivery and edged it to the 'keeper.
Malinga's swing and pace in his new ball spell troubled Australia's batsmen, even though he allowed 15 runs in his first two overs, but the slinger got his reward when he trapped Ponting lbw with a delivery which appeared to be hitting the top of leg stump.
And Warner's innings, which included four boundaries and a six, then came to an end when he misjudged the movement of a brilliant Mathews delivery and edged it onto his stumps.
Warner's dismissal drastically slowed the scoring rate, with Australia scoring just eight runs in the four overs after the dashing opener was bowled.
And, just as they were trying to get the run-rate back up, Michael Hussey fell when he tried to drive down the ground and Kulasekara took an incredible catch off his own bowling.
Just after the younger Hussey brother was dropped by Tharanga, he barely survived a run out chance, but made it to the halfway stage with Clarke to give Australia hope of posting a decent score.
Australia retained the same team which comfortably beat India on Sunday, with Peter Forrest missing out on the chance to make his international debut, while Senanayake replaced Thisara Perera for Sri Lanka.