'Perfection': Aaron Finch wows fans with 'magnificent' knock

Aaron Finch has lit up the Cricket World Cup with a superb captain's knock in Australia’s 87-run win against Sri Lanka.

The Aussie skipper was in extraordinary touch as he drove the Sri Lankans down the ground in a clinical batting display at The Oval.

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Much maligned before the tournament after a lean run of form for the national team, Finch reiterated his importance to the Aussies in some style.

The skipper was somewhat fortunate to survive a huge LBW shout in his thirties when Thisara Perera caught him in front with a ball that just pitched outside the line.

Finch survived the DRS scare despite ball-tracking replays showing the delivery going on to hit the stumps - the skipper benefiting from the umpire's original not out decision.

From there, the Australian captain looked calm, assured and aggressive as he almost single-handedly propelled his side to a formidable total.

Finch brought up his hundred in scintillating fashion by smashing Milinda Siriwardana for six with a superbly timed lofted drive.

The exceptional innings had fans singing Finch's praises, with many describing it as one of his finest knocks for some time.

Finch then went on to reach his second 150 of the year, hoisting one over deep square leg that bounced once before the boundary rope.

The opener’s incredible innings finally came to an end on 153 (off 132 balls) after he top-edged a shot that Sri Lanka captain Dimuth Karunaratne caught with ease.

The Aussies lost their second wicket in quick succession when a vicious Lasith Malinga yorker bowled Steve Smith for 73 (off 59 balls).

Finch was given good support from first David Warner (26 runs off 48 balls) and then Smith, who brought up his fifty a short time after Finch's century.

Warner was clean-bowled by Dhananjaya de Silva after struggling to really get going - the normally aggressive opener happy for Finch to assume that role.

Usman Khawaja came and went for 10 (off 20 balls) after becoming de Silva's second scalp when he was caught in the deep by Isuru Udana after a mistimed sweep shot.

Glenn Maxwell added a handy unbeaten 46 runs (off 25 balls), with Sri Lanka removing Shaun Marsh, Alex Carey and Pat Cummins cheaply to partly slow the Aussies down.

Mitchell Starc was the other not out batsman on five runs as Australia finished with a solid 7/334.

Sri Lanka offered a brief scare in reply at 0-88 after 10 overs, before Starc produced more of his one-day heroics to claim 4-55 as he he had them all out for 247.

The Aussie quick is at the top of the wicket-taking lists with 13 at 19.15, after he made the biggest dent in Sri Lanka's chase.

After Glenn Maxwell slowed their momentum (0-46 from 10 over), Starc got the first wicket with the score already at 115 in the 16th over, when he clean bowled Kusal Perera (52 off 36).

Kane Richardson (3-47) was also crucial in removing Dimuth Karunaratne at gully for 97, after the opener had got the Sri Lankans off to a flyer.

Pat Cummins (2-38) and Jason Behrendorff (1-59) also claimed wickets in the middle overs as Australia regained control of the match.

Starc then returned with the killer blow of three wickets across the 37th and 39th overs to end any real hopes of an upset before Richardson cleaned up the tail.

It leaves them one point clear at the top, albeit with having played more games than their rivals.

With AAP