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75 overs Sri Lanka 135 for 5 (Thirimanne 37*, Mendis 16*) need another 160 runs to beat India 294 for 7 (Gambhir 88, Tiwary 65, Dhoni 58, Malinga 3-64)
Chasing a huge total, Sri Lanka's top order floundered in the final ODI in Pallekele, leaving them staring at a 1-4 series defeat. India had gone in with a bowler short, but Sri Lanka had lost so many wickets before the part-timers came on that they could not exploit a potential weakness.
The procession started with Tillkaratne Dilshan chasing a wide one from Irfan Pathan in the second over, holing out to third man. Sri Lanka maintained a scorching pace early on, but lost their way once Upul Tharanga chipped a catch to cover in the eighth over. Dinesh Chandimal's forgettable series continued as he fell lbw to Ashk Dinda for 8, Angelo Mathews' first innings as one-day captain was ended by a direct hit from Manoj Tiwary, and Chamara Kapugedera wasted his umpteenth international comeback, walking after an lbw appeal.
Sri Lanka were at 102 for 5 and though Lahiru Thirimanne and Jeevan Mendis kept the chase alive, they still had plenty to do at the halfway stage of the innings.
Chasing a huge total, Sri Lanka's top order floundered in the final ODI in Pallekele, leaving them staring at a 1-4 series defeat. India had gone in with a bowler short, but Sri Lanka had lost so many wickets before the part-timers came on that they could not exploit a potential weakness.
The procession started with Tillkaratne Dilshan chasing a wide one from Irfan Pathan in the second over, holing out to third man. Sri Lanka maintained a scorching pace early on, but lost their way once Upul Tharanga chipped a catch to cover in the eighth over. Dinesh Chandimal's forgettable series continued as he fell lbw to Ashk Dinda for 8, Angelo Mathews' first innings as one-day captain was ended by a direct hit from Manoj Tiwary, and Chamara Kapugedera wasted his umpteenth international comeback, walking after an lbw appeal.
Sri Lanka were at 102 for 5 and though Lahiru Thirimanne and Jeevan Mendis kept the chase alive, they still had plenty to do at the halfway stage of the innings.