Michael Clarke’s golden summer continued but the skipper played a lone hand as Australia made just 231 in Friday’s one-day clash with Sri Lanka at the WACA Ground.

On a day when the mercury almost nudged 40 degrees Celsius, Clarke (57) was the only Australian batsman to notch a half-century as Sri Lanka’s bowling attack thrived in the stifling Perth heat.

All-rounder Angelo Mathews snared the key scalps of David Warner (34) and Clarke, while Lasith Malinga, Dhammika Prasad, Nuwan Kulasekara and spinner Sachithra Senanayake also chipped in with two wickets apiece.

Clarke, who plundered 626 runs at an average of 125.20 during the recent Test series win over India, combined with Dan Christian (33) to lift Australia from a precarious 5-130 to 5-186.

But their dismissal within four runs of each other – followed soon after by the demise of Ryan Harris – left Australia in all sorts of trouble at 8-192.

Tail-enders Clint McKay (25) and Mitch Starc (14) added some handy runs to ensure Australia reached a defendable total.

McKay was the last man out in the final over when Lahiru Thirimanne – running with the flight of the ball – snared a brilliant diving catch just centimetres short of the square leg boundary.

Earlier, the quick dismissals of Matthew Wade (1) and Ricky Ponting (1) failed to deter Warner, who looked in ominous touch as he struck four fours and a six.

But the 25-year-old was bowled on 34 by a peach of a delivery from Mathews, who surprised Warner with a delivery that sharply jagged back in.

Brothers Mike (23) and David Hussey (27) failed to make the most of their starts, and it was left up to the tail-enders when Christian and Clarke departed in quick succession.

Australia opted against handing Peter Forrest his debut, but the 26-year-old is in line to play in Sunday’s clash with India in Adelaide.