Warner ends up unbeaten yet again as Australia whitewash Sri Lanka

It was the Melbourne Cricket Ground's turn to witness David Warner's assault this time as the opener scored 57 off 50 balls, including four fours and one six, to power Australia through to a resounding 3-0 series victory over Sri Lanka. 

Skipper Aaron Finch, who won the toss and elected to bowl first, was spot on with his decision as Mitchell Starc provided the early breakthrough in the very first over. Opener Niroshan Dickwella got a big leading edge, which looped high in the air toward Ben McDermott at point, who completed a simple catch. 

His partner, Kusal Mendis also followed him within the powerplay. He pulled a short-ball from Kane Richardson straight down the throat of McDermott, who was positioned at square-leg. 

While runs flowed from Kusal Perera's bat at one end, wickets kept falling at regular intervals at the other. Sri Lanka did not manage to stitch a single fifty plus partnership.

Perera brought up his fifty, but he too did not manage to make an impact at the death. He fell to the first ball of the 17th over bowled by Pat Cummins. 

The left-hander ended up as Sri Lanka's top scorer, making 57 runs off 45 balls, including 4 boundaries and a six. Cummins, Starc, and Richardson ended with 2 wickets each as Sri Lanka managed only 142 runs for the loss of six wickets in their 20 overs. 

Warner and Finch put up a solid 69-run partnership for the opening wicket before the skipper departed for 37 runs. However, he had already weakened the Lankan morale by launching 3 massive sixes. 

Smith who came in at number three started with two beautiful boundaries. The first one was a short ball, which he whipped off his pads wide of long-leg. Whereas, he skipped down the wicket and hit a straight drive in the very next over bowled by Lakshan Sandakan . 

Sandakan, however, had the last laugh as he took a sharp catch off Nuwan Pradeep's bowling to dismiss Smith for 13. McDermott, who replaced him, departed for a measly 5 runs. A full-length ball by Malinga struck him plumb in front and the Australian decided not to waste a review. 

Ashton Turner, who replaced him, continued the assault with Warner, who brought up his half-century in 44 balls. Turner remained unbeaten on 22 with the help of two sixes. 

Warner ended the series unbeaten and scored a total of 227 runs in the three match series. Australia won the game with 7 wickets and the series 3-0.

Featured Image credits: DNA India