Sri Lanka limited Australia to 231 as they go in search of a first win in the CB Series in Perth on Friday.
The tourists' 10 wickets were shared evenly between five bowlers as only captain Michael Clarke truly distinguished himself for Australia with 57 off 88 balls, while opener David Warner struck a typically aggressive 34.
Sri Lanka began the match as the only side yet to win a game so far in this triangular series having lost their opening match to India, but will feel confident of changing that statistic.
In-form opener Matthew Wade was the first man out, having scored just one run off five balls, when he nicked a Nuwan Kulasekara delivery behind to wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara.
The hosts had added just four more runs when Ricky Ponting was also out for one, the former captain trapped lbw by Malinga with a delivery which was just clipping leg stump.
Warner's explosive innings, which included four fours and a six, was finally brought to an end when he was bowled by Angelo Mathews for 34 off 29 balls, and when Mike Hussey was caught and bowled by Kulasekara for 23 Australia were 81 for four.
David Hussey and Clarke took Australia to 130 before the former became the fifth man out, caught smartly by Lahiru Thirimanne off Malinga for 27.
Daniel Christian added 33 before falling victim to Sachithra Senanayake, stumped by Sangakkara before Mathews took the prize wicket of Clarke, caught at midwicket by Mahela Jayawardene with the score on 190.
Senanayake took the wicket of Ryan Harris (three) before Dhammika Prasad wiped out the tail by dismissing Mitchell Starc (14) and Clint McKay (25).
