Warner ton secures Aussie win

AUSTRALIA’S stand-in skipper David Warner led by example, hitting a brilliant century in their five-wicket win against Sri Lanka to complete a 4-1 series victory yesterday.

Australia’s bowlers laid the foundation for their victory after routing Sri Lanka for 195 in 40.2 overs in the final match of the series at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.

The modest chase looked far from a cakewalk, however, as the visitors slumped to 25 for two in the sixth over before Warner’s century helped them romp home with seven overs to spare.

Warner found an able ally in George Bailey and the duo added 132 runs as the world champions went on to exact a modicum of revenge after being whitewashed in the preceding threematch Test series.

Earlier, Sri Lanka squandered their best start of the series to settle for a below-par score after Dinesh Chandimal, leading the side in absence of injured regular skipper Angelo Mathews, won the toss and opted to bat.

Openers Dhananjaya de Silva (34) and Danushka Gunathilaka (39) raised 73 runs before the hosts lost three quick wickets to slump to 78 for three in the 16th over. Kusal Mendis (33) added 43 runs with Upul Tharanga (15) but another minicollapse followed soon.

The teams will now square off in a two-match Twenty20 series beginning today.