Seventh ODI, Baroda: India 245-5 (39.3 overs) beat Sri Lanka 244-9 (50 overs) by five wicketsMahendra Singh Dhoni produced another match-winning innings as India wrapped up a 6-1 one-day series win over Sri Lanka at Baroda. Dhoni, who made an astonishing 183 not out in the third game, hit three sixes and nine fours in his 80 off 73 balls.
He was caught at long-off with just five needed for victory as India eased home on 245-5 with 10.3 overs to spare.
Russel Arnold (68) and Marvan Atapattu (59) had earlier shared a stand of 133 as Sri Lanka totalled 244-9.
It represented a good recovery after the tourists had been reduced to 85-5, but the eventual outcome was never in doubt after India made 109 off the first 14 overs of their reply.
Sachin Tendulkar (39), Virender Sehwag and Irfan Pathan (both 35) were responsible for India's flying start.
Left-arm seamer Nuwan Zoysa took two wickets to help check their progress and when Mohammad Kaif was bowled by Dilhara Lokuhettige, India were 157-4 but with more than half of their overs remaining.
Dhoni was given his head by skipper Rahul Dravid, who was content to play the supporting role while the wicket-keeper/batsman again showed why he is emerging as one of the world's most dangerous one-day players.
His fifty took only 46 balls and he celebrated by hoisting balls from Upul Chandana and Lokuhettige over the fence at long-on.
Dhoni's attempt to end the match in similar fashion proved his undoing as Thilan Samaraweera took an excellent catch but Dravid finished things off in the next over by driving Chaminda Vaas for four to reach 31 not out.
Sri Lanka, who went into the game without injured Sanath Jayasuriya and Muttiah Muralitharan, chose to bat first after winning the toss.
 Rudra Pratap Singh made short work of Tillakaratne Dilshan |
But they were soon in trouble as Pathan and Ajit Agarkar removed the openers with only 20 on the board.
Kumar Sangakkara (32) and Mahela Jayawardene (20) added 57 before Rudra Pratap Singh removed both in successive overs - Jayawardene chipping a catch to short mid-wicket and Sangakkara top edging an attempted pull to Yuvraj Singh at point.
The young paceman (3-33) claimed another victim when Tillakaratne Dilshan was caught behind for four to leave Sri Lanka on 85-5.
Atapattu and Arnold met the crisis with sensible batting - the latter reaching his half century off 55 balls, just seven more than his captain, whose fifty was his 55th in a one-day international.
Man of the Match Pathan (3-38) dismissed both with the first and second balls of the 47th over as Harbhajan Singh took two catches in the deep.
And although Vaas added 11 off 10 balls, Sri Lanka's score ultimately proved well short of par with Dhoni maintaining his blistering form to finish the series as its highest scorer with 346 runs at an average of 115.