Australia kept their unbeaten record in the ODI tri-series intact as they clinched a thrilling five-run victory over Sri Lanka, despite a never-say-die innings from Angelo Mathews in Perth on Friday.

The tourists won the toss and put Australia in to bat and it was a much-improved performance in the field that saw them restrict the hosts to a modest 231.

However, in response, their batting crumbled to the depths of defeat until a last-wicket stand of 46 from Mathews and Dhammika Prasad resurrected their chase. With 14 runs needed off the final over it proved too much for Sri Lanka as they fell agonisingly short on the second-last ball of the match.

The hosts started the match with all guns blazing as David Warner came out with his usual boundary-seeking intentions. While he got off to a good start, Matthew Wade's stay was short-lived as he edged Nuwan Kulasekara to wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara with his score on one.

Ricky Ponting was no better in the scoring department as he was out lbw to Lasith Malinga soon after.

After four cracking boundaries and a huge six, Warner (33) was pegged back as the slower Angelo Mathews caught him in two minds with a length delivery that he chopped onto his stumps.

At 50 for three Michael Clarke and Mike Hussey had to produce a rebuilding stand and both looked decent at the crease as they put on 31. Hussey, however, saw his innings come to a screeching halt when Kulasekara took a fantastic diving caught-and-bowled.

Catching was a real highlight for Sri Lanka as Lahiru Thirimanne also took a sharp chance to get rid of David Hussey (23), who looked threatening after dishing out some punishment to off spinner Sachithra Senanayake.

Playing in only his second ODI, Daniel Christian provided the perfect foil to skipper Clarke who continued to accumulate runs and reached his 50th ODI half-ton off 80 balls. The duo put on 56 for the sixth wicket before Christian (33) fell victim to Senanayake, who beat the right-hander in the flight and Sangakkara completed the stumping.

Christian's wicket prompted a mini-collapse which saw Australia lose three wickets for six runs as Clarke (57) was outfoxed by his opposite captain Jayawardene, who caught him at short mid-wicket before Ryan Harris was caught at gully.

At 190 for eight after 42 overs, the home side looked in danger of being bowled out short of their allotted 50, but a wag of the tail from Mitchell Starc (14) and Clint McKay (25) lifted them to 231, until another superb catch on the boundary from Thirimanne capped off the day for Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka's chase got off to a rough start with Starc applying pressure on the openers resulting in the wicket of Tharanga who nicked off to Clarke at slip. A 50-run stand from Dilshan (40) and Sangakkara (22) put Sri Lanka on track, but a mix up in the middle saw the latter run out by a brilliant McKay direct hit. Dilshan was then also removed when he edged Ryan Harris to Matthew Wade.

With the match in the balance the left-arm spin of Xavier Doherty (two for 24) applied a stranglehold on the tourists by keeping the run-rate down and he picked up his first wicket when he snuck it through the defences of Thirimanne. Clarke saw the good results his fellow left-armer was getting and decided to replicate his team-mate. The skipper tasted success with his first ball as he trapped Chandimal lbw for 37 to again turn the match in Australia's favour.

Kulasekara (11) provided some support to Mathews, but he was out to a terrible shot which saw him nick a wide ball to Wade. Senanayake (nine) and Malinga (one) had brief stays at the crease with the pair becoming victims four and five to wicketkeeper Wade respectively. First Senanayake was stumped by the alert gloveman before Malinga skied one which was easily grabbed.

At 180 for nine it looked all over for Sri Lanka, but memories of Melbourne 2010, when he and Lasith Malinga master-minded a thrilling come-from-behind victory over the Australians, spurred Mathews on as he continued to fight to the death.

The vice-captain reached his half-ton in the presence of Prasad who fed the strike regularly to his partner. With 14 to get off the final over, Mathews smashed Starc for a four and a six off the first two balls and with six needed off two, the right-hander went for the glory, but holed out to Christian at long-on for 64, sparking huge relief and celebrations from the Australians.