There was some consolation for Sri Lanka as they won the fifth and final One-Day International against India by 112 runs at the R. Premadasa Stadium on Friday, but the fact that they had suffered the first ever series defeat to the tourists at home will certainly haunt them for sometime to come.

It was a series that Sri Lanka ought to have won, but their perseverance to go with a six-batsmen and five-bowlers combination in Sri Lankan conditions hurt them badly. Chasing a revised target of 216 in 44 overs, India crashed to 103 all out, their lowest total on Sri Lankan soil.

But there were some sweet moments for the Sri Lankans as they prevented the Indians from wining four successive games, something they have not allowed any touring team to do on this soil and more importantly unearthed a solid all-rounder in Thilan Thushara Mirando.

Sri Lanka’s top order collapsed again and they were 133 for six when Mirando joined Jehan Mubarak, who was brought in after Tillekeratne Dilshan was dropped, and the pair added a record and unbroken 94-run stand for the 7th wicket in 78 balls. They broke the record for the 7th wicket at the R. Premadasa Stadium between Anil Kumble and Mohammad Kaif, who had added 84 runs.

Mirando, who had contributed with scores of 44, 30 and 40 in the series, stroked his maiden half-century in just 42 balls with the help of six boundaries. He slogged all Indian bowlers as the hosts scored 84 runs in the last ten overs giving the bowlers something to defend.

His knock came as an embarrassment for Sri Lanka’s famed batting line up and Mirando ended the series with 168 runs, the third highest aggregate after Man of the Series M.S. Dhoni (193) and Mahela Jayawardene (185), both of whom had batted in all five innings compared to Mirando’s four. He also topped the averages from both sides ending the series as the only player to average over 50.

His average of 56 was a way above the next best of Jayawardene who had averaged 46.25. Into the bargain, he also finished the series with ten wickets including a five-wicket haul in the 4th ODI.

Chasing a target of 227, the Indians progressed to 70 for three before rain washed off 86 minutes of play.

Nuwan Kulasekara had accounted for all three wickets to fall before the break and after the interruption, he also claimed the wicket Rohit Sharma (03) and was named the Man of the Match for his role in the Sri Lankan win.

Then Ajantha Mendis came to the party. Coming onto bowl in the 19th over of the India innings, he struck immediately removing Yuvraj Singh off his very first ball and that was the third time he had dismissed the Indian vice-captain in the series. He finished with four for 10 extending his tally of wickets in the series to 12.

Dilhara Fernando too struck two vital blows by removing M.S. Dhoni (01) and R.P. Singh (04).

Earlier, after Jayawardene won his first toss in the series, Sri Lanka lost Sanath Jayasuriya for one. Mahela Udawatte (30) and Malinda Warnapura (43) added 77 runs for the 2nd wicket in 95 balls before Irfan Pathan claimed both batsmen in the space of four deliveries.

Kumar Sangakkara’s poor series continued as he was dismissed in the next over for one and then left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha, who bowled three successive maidens, accounted for Jayawardene (12) and Chamara Kapugedara (26) and the writing was on the wall for the hosts before Mubarak and Mirando fought back.

In the run chase, India lost their last seven wickets for 33 runs as rain took the momentum off the game.

S. Jayasuriya c Ojha b Khan 1

M. Warnapura c Gambhir b Pathan 30

M. Udawatte lbw b Pathan 43

K. Sangakkara c Gambhir b R.P.Singh 1

M. Jayawardene c Yuvraj b Ojha 12

C. Kapugedera c R.P. Singh b Ojha 26

J. Mubarak not out 47

T. Thushara not out 54

Extras: (6lb, 1nb, 6w) 13

Overs: 50

Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-78, 3-80, 4-82, 5-104,6-133.

Did not bat: A. Mendis, N. Kulasekara,

D. Fernando

Bowling: Patel 7-1-20-0, Khan 10-1-49-1, R.P. Singh 8-0-54-1, I. Pathan 10-0-52-2, Ojha,10-4-28-2, Sharma 2-0-7-0, Y. Singh 3-0-11-0.

(Rain revised target 216 in 44 overs)

V. Kohli lbw b Kulasekara 31

G. Gambhir c S’kara b Kulasekara 11

Y. Singh b Mendis 17

S. Raina c Fernando b Kulasekara 10

R. Sharma lbw b Kulasekara 3

M. Dhoni b Fernando 1

I. Pathan c Warnapura b Mendis 7

Z. Khan lbw b Mendis 3

R.P. Singh c Jayawardene b Fernando 4

P. Ojha c Kulasekara b Mendis 5

M. Patel not out 4

Extras: (1b, 2lb, 4w) 7

Overs: 26.3.

Fall of wickets: 1-38, 2-45, 3-70, 4-76, 5-79, 6-85, 7-90, 8-91, 9-95, 10-103

Bowling: Kulasekara 9-2-40-4, Thushara 6-0-26-0, Fernando 7-1-24-2, Mendis 4.3-2-10-4.

Toss: Sri Lanka

Result: Sri Lanka win by 112 runs

Series: India wins five-match series 3-2

Man of the Match:N. Kulasekara (SL)

Man of the Series:M.S. Dhoni (Ind)

Umpires: Billy Doctrove, (WI) and Tyron Wijewardena, (SL).

TV Umpire: Gamini Silva, (SL).

Match Referee: Chris Broad, (Eng).