Rain forces abandonment of 4th ODI between Australia and Sri Lanka at SCG

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

SYDNEY, Australia — Rain forced the abandonment of the fourth one-day cricket international between Australia and Sri Lanka at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday, gifting Sri Lanka an unbeatable 2-1 lead in the series with a match to play.

Sri Lanka was 14 without loss in the fourth over of its innings, replying to Australia’s 222 for nine, when steady drizzle began to fall at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

After a two hour delay, and despite frantic efforts by ground staff, umpires Marais Erasmus of South Africa and Paul Reiffel of Australia declared the ground unfit for further play.

Earlier, David Warner and Mitchell Starc made half centuries to hold together a fractured innings and to lead Australia to a competitive total.

Nuwan Kulasekara and Lasith Malinga produced outstanding spells of outswing bowling to undo the Australian top order, reducing the home side to 53-3 as it batted first after winning the toss.

Sri Lanka now takes its 2-1 series lead into the final match at Hobart on Wednesday.

05:40ET 20-01-13