Angelo Mathews and Lasith Malinga combined in a record 132-run ninth-wicket partnership to guide Sri Lanka to an extraordinary one-wicket win Wednesday that exposed Australia's falling status in international cricket.

Sri Lanka was reeling at 107 for eight chasing 240 to win when Mathews and Malinga combined in the 26th over, then took on an Australian attack that has started showing a lack of ability in putting teams away.

Together they shared the highest ninth-wicket partnership ever in an ODI and ensured a tie before Malinga was run out for 56 with the total at 239-9.

No. 11 Muttiah Muralitharan calmly hit the winning runs with 34 balls to spare - a glanced boundary off Shane Watson in the next over – leaving Mathews unbeaten on 77.

Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara said it was probably the best ODI win ever for Sri Lanka.