Pallekele: Irfan Pathan claimed five wickets and contributed a valuable 29 runs as India managed a 20-run win over Sri Lanka in the dead fifth rubber to complete a 4-1 series drubbing, here on Saturday.
Pathan was also named Man-of-the-Match for his efforts.
India posted a challenging 294/7 after electing to bat and completed the win by bowling out the hosts for 274 in 45.4 overs at the Pallekele Stadium.
India had lost the second ODI in Hambantota by nine wickets but were dominant in all the other matches.
Manoj Tiwary (65) and skipper MS Dhoni (58) scored fifties, along with Gautam Gambhir (88), who also passed the 5,000-run mark. Rohit Sharma (4) failed yet again.
Dhoni, along with Pathan (29 off 28), plundered 77 runs in just 9.5 overs before the captain fell to Lasith Malinga in the penultimate over of India’s innings.
Later, the pace trio of Pathan (5/61), Ashok Dinda (2/55) and Zaheer Khan (1/53) ripped apart the Sri Lankan top-order, tilting the scales in favour of India.
Courtesy this win, India have now claimed the second spot in the ODI rankings behind Australia after starting the series in fourth position.
Both India and Australia now have 119 rating points, followed by South Africa (118).
Lahiru Thirimanne, who came to bat at number three after the fall of opener Tillakaratne Dilshan (0), was the top scorer for the hosts with his fighting 77-run knock.
He was helped by Jeevan Mendis (72) as the Lankans gave the Indians a run for their money.
Virat Kohli, who performed exceptionally well with the bat, was named Player-of-the-Series. (PTI)
