Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene was left frustrated by umpires Marais Erasmus and Paul Reiffel's decision to adjudge Sunday's fourth ODI against Australia in Sydney a washout.

The hosts' choice to bat first amounted to 222 for nine on the back of half-centuries from batsman David Warner and all-rounder Mitchell Starc, after which the tourists' reply reached a promising 14 without loss.

Persistent rain, however, saw the players flee from the field at 21:00 local time (10:30 GMT). The inclement weather relented an hour later, but the outfield was deemed too sodden for a resumption in play.

"I think we can probably write to match referee Javagal Srinath because the interpretation we got three months ago was something totally different. It was deemed that we would only stop play if it was dangerous, not unfair," said Jayawardene.

"We played New Zealand three months ago and the interpretation of what we got in that series was quite different to what we got here. It's disappointing because at the SCG I would assume a ground of this magnitude should be able to get a game in."

The Sri Lankans maintained their two-one series lead regardless, and will have the opportunity to clinch triumph come the fifth and final ODI in Hobart on Wednesday.

Fast bowlers Nuwan Kulasekara and Lasith Malinga have been particularly key to their campaign, and on Sunday led the visiting seam attack's compelling charge.

"Our guys bowled brilliantly, it was a great bowling effort that set the game up for us. With the rain coming in we probably had to get a run a ball with 10 wickets in hand, so it would have been a much easier chase. It's a little disappointing, but we can take a lot of positives out of the way we've come back into this series and how we've controlled things," added Jayawardene.

Meanwhile, Cricket Australia have afforded fans who attended Sunday's washout a concession. They will be given a free ticket for each one they buy ahead of Saturday's first Twenty20 Intertnational at the Sydney Cricket Ground.