Cricket: Irfan Pathan earns man-of-the-match as India take series win

Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan jumps in celebratiob after dismissing Sri Lankan cricketer Jeevan Mendis, right, during the fifth and final one-day international at the Pallekele International Cricket SShow more

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 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 294-7 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 man-of-the-match 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 team captain MS Dhoni (58) all making half-centuries.

"This was a very good wicket to bat on. Gautam batted well and we had a very good platform," Dhoni said. "We still need to improve, not only in bowling but also in batting."

India were under pressure at 87-3 but Gambhir and Tiwary propped up the innings with a 110-run stand for the fourth wicket.

Sri Lanka and India will now clash in a one-off Twenty20 international at the same venue on Tuesday.

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