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McKay, Starc star as Aussies dismiss Sri Lanka

Australia, trying to avoid a record eighth straight international defeat, hit back in the final one-day international, bowling Sri Lanka out for 115 at the Gabba on Sunday.

The Australians, who have already lost the best-of-three ODI series after losing to Sri Lanka in Melbourne and Sydney, meekly succumbed off 32 overs.

It was the duo of Clint McKay and Mitchell Starc who did the damage for Australia.

McKay, playing in his 15th ODI, captured a career-best five for 33 off nine overs, while Starc, in only his second ODI, claimed four for 27 off nine overs.

Both young players enjoyed the bounce and movement of the pitch, where the opening Ashes Test with England will be played in 18 days’ time.

Only Chamara Silva (33) and Upul Tharanga (28) showed any resistance, while skipper Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene made ducks.

Michael Clarke was deputising for rested captain Ricky Ponting as Australia attempted to avoid an unprecedented eighth international defeat in all forms of the game, stemming back to last July.

Never in the nation’s 133-year cricketing history has Australia lost eight consecutive matches.

Tillakaratne Dilshan was out in the third over, finding Mike Hussey at forward square leg for an easy catch off McKay for one.

Sangakkara followed four balls with a faint edge off McKay to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin for a duck.

McKay, in a red hot bowling spell on the seaming Gabba pitch, sent Jayawardene on his way without scoring, after a flying catch at second slip by Cameron White.

In eight balls McKay had taken 3-0, ripping through the Sri Lankan top order.

Shane Watson removed Sydney ODI top-scorer Tharanga leg before wicket for 28 off 53 balls in the 14th over to leave Sri Lanka at 50 for four.

Starc got his first ODI wicket when he bowled Melbourne hero Angelo Mathews off an inside edge for nine in the 22nd over.

Starc, who has only played 10 first-class games, got one to lift and Jeevan Mendis fended a catch to Haddin for five for the giant left-armer’s second wicket.

Starc ended Silva’s vigil for 33 off 72 balls, bowling him off an edge to leave the Sri Lankans tottering at 95 for seven in the 28th over.

McKay picked up his fourth wicket having Thisara Perera well caught by Steven Smith, spinning around at backward point to get under the swirling ball.

Suraj Randiv became McKay’s fifth wicket when he was bowled for seven attempting a big hit, while Lasith Malinga was the last man out caught in the deep to give Starc his fourth scalp.