India put up a clinical display to beat Sri Lanka by 20 runs to win the series 4-1.
A report in The Times of India says that an all round performance by Irfan Pathan (29 runs and 5 wickets) helped India to a 20-run win over Sri Lanka in the inconsequential fifth ODI to complete a 4-1 series drubbing, on Saturday.
India posted a challenging 294 for seven after electing to bat and completed the win by bowling out the hosts for 274 in 45.4 overs at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. Barring India’s second ODI loss at the Hambantota, India dominated the whole series.
India in the quest for their victory was helped by Gautam Gambhir (88), Manoj Tiwary (65) and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (58).
Dhoni along with Pathan (29 off 28) plundered 77 runs in just 9.5 overs before falling to Lasith Malinga in the penultimate over of India innings.
Later, the pace trio of Pathan (5-60), Ashok Dinda (2-55) and Zaheer Khan (1-53) ripped apart the Sri Lankan top-order to seal the victory for India.
Meanwhile the Hindustan Times writes that after this India has now moved up to the second spot in the ODI rankings behind Australia after starting the series in the fourth position. Both India and Australia now have 119 rating points, followed by South Africa (118).