Australia suffer shock World Twenty20 exit

By Richard Sydenham

NOTTINGHAM, England (Reuters) - Australia made a shock exit from the World Twenty20 after losing by six wickets to Sri Lanka on Monday, their second successive defeat in the tournament.

Captain Kumar Sangakkara steered his team to victory with 55 not out as Sri Lanka overhauled Australia's total of 159 for nine with six balls to spare, clinching victory with a Mitchell Johnson wide.

Makeshift opener Tillakaratne Dilshan scored 53 from 32 balls to give his team a solid start to their chase.

Just when Australia looked to be fighting back, Sangakkara crashed two consecutive sixes, a sweep over square leg and a drive over long-on off off-spinner Nathan Hauritz.

Dilshan registered his half-century from just 26 balls with an audacious vertical flick shot over the wicketkeeper's head for four off Shane Watson, his 10th boundary. He was bowled by left-arm spinner Michael Clarke six balls later.

Australia lost wickets regularly throughout their 20 overs, David Hussey and Johnson top-scoring with 28.

They struggled with the unorthodox off-spin of Ajantha Mendis, who claimed three for 20 from his four overs in his first game against the world's leading team of the last decade.

Sri Lanka meet West Indies on Wednesday in Group C with both teams through to the next stage of the event. West Indies beat Australia by seven wickets on Saturday.

(Editing by Ed Osmond. To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)