Australia clinches CB series after beating Lanka by 16 runs in last final

Adelaide, Mar 8(ANI): Australia has won the Commonwealth Bank triangular series as Clint McKay's all round performance helped them win the last of the three finals by 16 runs against a resolute Sri Lankan side.

Australia won the best of three finals series 2-1 despite the absence of captain Michael Clarke in the last final, who will miss a month of cricket with a hamstring strain.

Batting first, Australia could manage to set the Lankans a target of 232 despite getting a flying start, The Sydney Morning Herald reports.

The Lankans were bowled out for 215 and McKay played a pivotal role while bowling, as he claimed a tightfisted five-wicket haul (5/28)

Man of the match, McKay helped salvage Australia after a middle-order debacle, which killed the hopes of a big total.

McKay smacked 28 runs from 32 balls, and combined with Brett Lee for a precious 40-run union for the eighth wicket, after Australia dramatically lost five wickets in the space of 12 overs, while scoring only 36 runs in the process.

Lee and McKay then united with the ball to tear through Sri Lanka's vaunted top order as the tourists slumped to 4-53 in the 10th over.

A fired-up Lee snared the initial two victims, danger men Tillakaratne Dilshan (8) and Kumar Sangakkara (19).

McKay picked up the theme by dismissing Dinesh Chandimal (5) and captain Mahela Jayawardene (15) to leave the Sri Lankans quivering.

McKay then mopped up with the final two wickets to seal Sri Lanka's fate.

Tillakaratne Dilshan was named the Man of the Series (ANI)