Warner century puts Australia in command

BRISBANE: David Warner scored a magnificent 163 to lead Australia to 321 for six in the first tri-series one-day international final against Sri Lanka on Sunday.

Warner, whose previous highest ODI score was 74, smashed 13 fours and two sixes in his 157-ball innings to dominate the Sri Lankan attack.

The 25-year-old left-hander was in imperious touch as he became only the seventh Australian to pass 150 in a one-day international, batting through the entire innings until he was bowled on the last ball of the 50th over by medium pacer Dhammika Prasad.

Warner also passed Englishman David Gower (158) to record the highest ODI score by any player at the Gabba.

Australian skipper Michael Clarke earlier won the toss and had no hesitation batting first on an overcast Brisbane afternoon.

Warner and fellow opener Matthew Wade got the Australians off to a blistering start, smashing their first 50 runs from just 40 deliveries.

Wade brought up his 50 and the Australian 100 in just the 18th over as the home side continued to dominate. Wade's half century came off 52 deliveries and included three boundaries and a towering six over mid-on off Lasith Malinga.

Warner reached his 50 soon afterwards with the two powerful left-handers providing the platform for a massive score.

The Sri Lankans eventually broke through when Rangana Herath took a spectacular catch in the deep to dismiss Wade for 64 with the total on 136.

Wade smashed Nuwan Kulasekara over long-on, only for Herath to leap backwards, thrust out his left hand and snare the ball, somehow managing to hold on to it as he crashed into the ground just inside the boundary rope.

Shane Watson joined Warner at the crease and carried on where Wade left off. He and Warner put on 50 before the burly Watson skied a catch to Lahiru Thirimanne off Farveez Maharoof at deep midwicket for 21.

Warner hardly missed a beat, however, bringing up his 100 with an outside edge to the third man boundary during the same over.

The Sri Lankans slowed the run rate with quick dismissals of Dan Christian and David Hussey, but Warner and Clarke put on 50 off just 38 balls and Mike Hussey played a late cameo of 19 to ensure the visitors would be chasing over 300 under lights.