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Mitchell Starc © Gallo Images

Rain ruins SL chase after Starc heroics



The fourth one-day international between Australia and Sri Lanka have been called off due to rain in Sydney on Sunday.

Full Scorecard: Australia v Sri Lanka

The visitors were 14 without loss when the rain came down, and although it was not heavy, the match was abandoned two hours later because of a wet outfield.

Earlier, Mitchell Starc helped Australia avoid a second batting collapse in three days by smashing an unbeaten 52 off 37 balls to help the hosts reach 222-9 off 50 overs.

Australia, reduced to 130-6 at one point, gave the players who mustered just 74 runs in Friday's defeat in Brisbane a chance to redeem themselves, but only David Warner (60) fully grabbed the opportunity before No. 9 Starc's late stand.

Michael Clarke scored just 20 at the Sydney Cricket Ground before he was dismissed lbw by Nuwan Kulasekara and the captain's decision to incorrectly refer the borderline decision would cost his team.

Warner and Moises Henriques were unable to refer their dismissals despite both inside-edging onto the pad.

Fortunately for Clarke, Australia added 40 off the last four overs thanks to Starc's highest one-day score.

The hosts trail 2-1 in the five-match series.

AUSTRALIA: DA Warner, PJ Hughes, MJ Clarke (capt), GJ Bailey, DJ Hussey, MS Wade (wk), MC Henriques, MG Johnson, MA Starc, CJ McKay, XJ Doherty

SRI LANKA: DPMD Jayawardene (capt), TM Dilshan, HDRL Thirimanne, LD Chandimal (wk), MDKJ Perera, AD Mathews, BMAJ Mendis, NLTC Perera, KMDN Kulasekara, SL Malinga, HMRKB Herath

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