PALLEKELE, Sri Lanka - Irfan Pathan grabbed five wickets as India posted a 20-run victory over Sri Lanka in the fifth and final one-day international in Pallekele on Saturday to win the series 4-1.
The paceman finished with 5-61, his second five-wicket haul in one-dayers, as India bowled Sri Lanka out for 274 after scoring a challenging 7-294 in the day-night match.
Sri Lanka were struggling at 102-5 before Lahiru Thirimanne (77) and Jeevan Mendis (72) gave India some anxious moments with a 102-run stand for the sixth wicket.
Thirimanne hit three sixes and five fours in his career-best knock before he was run out, and then Pathan removed Thisara Perera (18) and well-set Mendis in the same over.
Mendis cracked six fours in his maiden half-century in one-day internationals.
India earlier put in an impressive batting performance, with opener Gautam Gambhir (88), middle-order batsman Manoj Tiwary (65) and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (58) all making half-centuries.
India were under pressure at 3-87 but Gambhir and Tiwary propped up the innings with a 110-run stand for the fourth wicket.
Sri Lanka then got three quick wickets to reduce India to 6-213 before wicketkeeper-batsman Dhoni and Pathan (29 not out) added 77 for the seventh wicket to help their team set a stiff target.
Fast bowlers Lasith Malinga (3-64) and Nuwan Pradeep (2-63) were the main wicket-takers for Sri Lanka.