Mother nature has provided Australia with some relief as rain halted play in the fourth one day international against Sri Lanka at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
A short time ago Sri Lanka were none for four after two overs, chasing 223 for a series-sealing victory.
A pair of umpiring howlers and another failure from the top order have combined to restrict Australia to its third consecutive sub-par total in game four of their one day series with Sri Lanka.
Australia battled their way to 9-222 in the must-win game at the SCG on Sunday, as their top order frailties were again exposed by crafty Sri Lankan medium-pacer Nuwan Kulasekara and speedster Lasith Malinga.
Before Mitchell Starc added some respectability to the score with 52no off 37 balls.
But their case to keep the series alive wasn’t helped by two blunders from the on-field officials who prematurely ended the innings of top-scorer David Warner (60) and Moises Henriques (3).
On both occasions the batsmen were adjudged out lbw, despite replays showing clear inside edges prior to hitting the pads, and Australia slumped to 6-130 with the consecutive dismissals.
Neither was able to use the decision review system because captain Michael Clarke (20) had burned Australia’s only challenge of the innings with a frivolous query of an lbw of his own - which was upheld.
Warner, whose 60 is his highest ODI score in nearly 10 months, was particularly seething at the officiating error, thumping his bat in frustration as he glared at umpire Marais Erasmus on his walk back to the pavilion.
It was a painful end to an at times-painful innings for the explosive opener, who was felled by a quick delivery to the groin before later getting hit on his left thumb.
Both incidents left the 26-year-old grimacing in pain, but neither removed him from the crease as he played a solid lone hand until a major lower order revival, inspired by Matthew Wade (31) and another standout innings from Starc, pushed Australia past 200.
Starc and Xavier Doherty (10no) added 40 for the last wicket after Warner’s top order allies were once again bamboozled by swing bowler Kulasekara (3-30) who dismissed Phil Hughes (1) with a gem and also removed Clarke before cashing in with Clint McKay’s wicket late.
Malinga (2-33) also chimed in with a vicious burst of fast swing bowling that enticed an edge from David Hussey (1) and had George Bailey seemingly under a spell.
The Tasmanian was tied down by Malinga and crept to just five off his first 16 balls before hitting his first boundary - but wasted a good start when he failed to clear mid on with a lazy drive to be out for 22 and become the first victim of the day for Rangana Herath (2-37). – Sky News
