Cricket: McKay spurs Aussie win

Clint McKay's feats with bat and ball inspired Australia to a 16-run victory over Sri Lanka to claim the cricket tri-series title early today.

McKay followed an invaluable batting cameo with a miserly five-wicket haul as Australia, after stumbling to 231 all out, bowled the tourists out for 215 with seven balls remaining.

McKay was the central character in the decider, helping rescue Australia after a middle-order batting crash dashed hopes of a massive total.

The Victorian then snared his best one-day figures of 5-28 from 9.5 overs.

Earlier, the hosts' solid batting platform built by Matthew Wade (49) and his opening partner David Warner (48 from 45 balls) was eroded by a stunning collapse of 5-36 in a dozen overs.

But McKay smacked 28 runs from 32 balls, and combined with Brett Lee for a precious 40-run union for the eighth wicket.

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.

Sri Lanka needed a run a ball from the final six overs when Upul Tharanga's match-high knock of 71 from 122 balls was ended when Shane Watson nabbed his wicket.

- AAP