Surprise packet Peter Forrest has stepped into Ricky Ponting’s shoes and cracked a maiden one-day international century in a testing Australian total of 6-280 against Sri Lanka at Bellerive.

Thrust into the customary No.3 position of the dropped former captain, Forrest hit 104 off 138 balls to set the platform for the home side, which had to recover from 2-27.

Virtually unknown two weeks ago, the Queensland recruit capped a dream start to his international career, becoming the first Australian to score 50s in three of his first four ODI innings when he passed that mark off 78 balls in the 20th over.

Forrest hit 10 fours and two sixes to more than justify his shock selection by the same panel that had dropped Ponting this week.

Few would have been more relieved than panel member and captain Michael Clarke, who played the support role to Forrest with 72 off 79 in his return from a hamstring injury after two Ponting-skippered matches.

After winning the toss, Australia were in trouble early when Matthew Wade (five) spooned an easy catch to Mahela Jayawardene in the second over.

Dave Warner’s underwhelming series continued when he edged Farveez Maharoof (1-40) behind for seven to reduce the home side to 2-27.

But on a wicket chock full of runs, Forrest and Clarke put on 154 for the third wicket, their 150 coming off just 178 balls before the skipper was caught at deep midwicket by Thisara Perera in the 39th over.

Forrest was out soon after emotionally celebrating his ton, miscuing to Maharoof at deep cover.

Some late hitting from David Hussey (40no off 28 balls) and brother Mike (21 off 14 balls) capitalised on the Forrest-Clarke platform, while Brett Lee finished unbeaten on 20 off 15 balls.

Australia (14 points) can secure a place in the finals with a bonus-point win, while Sri Lanka (11) will leave India (10) under huge pressure if they can chase down the total.