Australia v Sri Lanka, 4th ODI; Match abandoned due to rain at Sydney Cricket Ground

Mitchell Starc: Rallied with an unbeaten half-century for Australia

David Warner top-scored with 60 before wrongly being adjudged lbw

The fourth one-day cricket international between Australia and Sri Lanka was abandoned because of rain on Sunday.

The hosts made 222-9 before bad weather hit the Sydney Cricket Ground with the tourists on 14 without loss off 3.2 overs.

It means the Australians need to win the fifth and final one-day international in Hobart on Wednesday to tie the series.

David Warner struck an impressive 60 and Mitchell Starc contributed a quickfire unbeaten 52, but two questionable umpiring decisions cut short Warner's impressive knock and that of Moises Henriques.

Nuwan Kulasekara, who tormented Australia in the third ODI in Brisbane with his 5-22 as the hosts were swept out for 74, continued in the same vein in Sydney when he had Phillip Hughes out early on edging to wicketkeeper Dinesh Chandimal for one.

Australia reached 50 in just the 10th over, but captain Michael Clarke (20) lost his wicket that same over as Kulasekara (3-30) secured his second scalp of the day by trapping him lbw.

With Australia struggling on 53-3, George Bailey steadied the ship as he fought valiantly during a lively spell by Lasith Malinga (2-33).

Warner continued his good work in the middle, reaching his half-century off just 57 balls, including five boundaries but was given out to a very dubious lbw decision.

Replays showed there was a massive inside edge onto his pads off Thisara Perera's delivery, but Warner was unable to refer the decision as Clarke had used up the one and only referral earlier in the innings.

Just two overs later Henriques (three) suffered the same fate. Umpire Paul Reiffel sent him back to the pavilion for lbw to Herath, but replays again showed a big inside edge onto his pads.

Matthew Wade dazzled with 31, before the wicketkeeper slashed a Perera delivery straight to Kulasekara, who ran in from the boundary to take the catch.

Australia's lower order of Clint McKay (two) and Xavier Doherty (10 not out) did not offer much resistance, but a well-played 52 off just 37 balls by Starc helped the home team to a competitive total.

Starc and Doherty hit 16 runs off the last over to lift the total to 222.