August 29, 2008 (AFP) – Nuwan Kulasekara wrecked India’s top order with a career-best haul of 4-40 to bowl Sri Lanka to a consolation 112-run victory in the fifth and final one-day international here on Friday.
India, who already had a winning 3-1 lead, were shot out for 103 chasing a rain-revised target of 216 off 44 overs under lights. They clinched the series 3-2.
It was India’s third-lowest total against Sri Lanka in one-dayers.
Teenager Virat Kohli was the top scorer with 31 in a brittle batting performance.
New-ball bowler Kulasekara was superbly backed by unorthodox spinner Ajantha Mendis, who finished with 4-10 off 4.
3 overs.
“It was a good way to finish the series, but the Indians played well and deserved to win it,” said Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene.
“Credit goes to the boys for the way we came back.
We kept making mistakes through the series. We were not consistent in the batting department.
”
Man-of-the-match Kulasekara dismissed Kohli, Gautam Gambhir (11), Suresh Raina (10) and Rohit Sharma (three) in his sharp opening spell to build