Top-scorer David Warner at the crease for Australia. Photo: Brendan Esposito
AUSTRALIA'S embattled batsmen remain under the microscope after their bid to atone for Friday's Gabba capitulation was undermined on Sunday by a pair of umpiring howlers which has brought into question the hosts' use of the decision review system.
David Warner and Moises Henriques both fell victim to blunders from umpires Marais Erasmus and Paul Reiffel, who gave the batsmen out lbw, despite both players having clearly hit the ball onto their pad.
But the pair could not turn to the third umpire for a reprieve as captain Michael Clarke had already wasted Australia's only referral in an ambitious attempt to overturn an earlier lbw decision.
Unlike in Test matches, each side can make only one incorrect referral to the third umpire, which places more pressure on batsmen to save the lifeline for clear mistakes rather than using it out of hope.
Clarke's use of the video technology after consulting his partner, ironically Warner, fell into the latter category as replays showed the ball zeroing in on the top of his middle stump.
Although the decisions which led to the downfall of Warner and Henriques were equally glaring, the call which sent the opener back to the pavilion proved most costly as he was launching a bold fightback for the home side.
His dismissal sparked a middle-order collapse during which Australia lost 5-57 from 17 overs, only to be saved late by a half-century from Mitchell Starc, which allowed Australia to reach 9-222 from its 50 overs at the SCG.
A furious Warner, who made 60 off 73 balls before losing his wicket to Thisara Perera, hit his helmet with his bat and mouthed an expletive while glaring at Erasmus after the decision.
He then slapped his bat with his hand as he walked off the ground to a mix of applause and jeers from the crowd, which was being made aware of Warner's rough justice on the big screen.
To Erasmus' credit, he was visibly disappointed at his mistake, bowing his head in acknowledgement after watching the replay.
But that is unlikely to spare Warner a charge of dissent from match referee Javagal Srinath.
Henriques followed moments later, making just three before suffering a similar fate to Warner - this time at the hands of Reiffel and the left-arm spin of Rangana Herath.
Henriques, playing in just his fourth one-day international, was bowled by a peach of an inswinger from destroyer Nuwan Kulasekara in Brisbane and a victim of bad luck in Sydney.
The umpiring controversies masked yet another substandard performance by Australia's front-line batsmen.
For the third consecutive match, the home side was unhinged by Sri Lanka's underrated attack, which lacked penetration during the Test series but has found plenty of venom with the white ball.
After thrashing Sri Lanka for 305 in the series opener, the Australians have managed scores of 170, 74 and 222.
Of concern for national selectors will be the moderate form of David Hussey and George Bailey, who have both failed to fire after starring in game one.
The veteran pair, both uncapped at Test level, are on trial for the tour of India, though neither have managed to book a ticket on the plane with their performances against the Sri Lankans.
Kulasekara was again the destroyer, and followed his match-winning 5-22 at the Gabba with another three wickets at the SCG, including the key scalp of Clarke.
The Sri Lankan swingman has taken 10 wickets at 12.9 from four matches and is well placed to claim the man-of-the-series honours.
Australia was spared blushes by a career-best performance from Starc, who showcased his hitting ability in the lower order with a fine half-century.
Starc's unbeaten 52 off only 37 balls enabled Australia to set a competitive total, which did not seem possible after it lost a flurry of wickets early in the innings and again through the middle overs.
Starc and No. 11 Xavier Doherty added 40 for the final wicket.
Australia
D WARNER lbw b T Perera 60
P HUGHES c Chandimal b Kulasekara 1
M CLARKE lbw b Kulasekara 20
D HUSSEY c Thirimanne b Malinga 1
G BAILEY c T Perera b Herath 22
M WADE c Kulasekara b T Perera 31
M HENRIQUES lbw b Herath 3
M JOHNSON lbw b Malinga 10
M STARC not out 52
C McKAY b Kulasekara 2
X DOHERTY not out 10
Sundries (1b, 7lb, 2w) 10
Total (9 wkts - 50 overs) 222
Fall of wickets: 4 (Hughes), 50 (Clarke), 53 (Hussey), 93 (Bailey), 125 (Warner), 130 (Henriques), 145 (Johnson), 166 (Wade), 182 (McKay)
Bowling: A Mathews 10-1-50-0, N Kulasekara 10-2-30-3 (1w), L Malinga 10-2-33-2 (1w), T Perera 10-0-64-2, R Herath 10-0-37-2
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