Jayawardene Praises Sri Lanka Character

Jayawardene - pleased his side's adaptation.

Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene praised his players for their performances after Sri Lanka defeated India in the final one-dayer at the Premadasa Stadium on Friday.

Sri Lanka, playing for pride after India had already wrapped up the series, defeated India by 112 runs in a rain-affected fifth and final game of the series.

Thilan Thushara (54) hit a maiden half-century as Sri Lanka made 228 for six after electing to bat first.

India's reply was reduced to 44 overs, following a mid-innings 80-minute rain delay, with the target revised to 216.

Nuwan Kulasekara and Ajantha Mendis claimed four wickets apiece as India were bowled out for 103 in 26.3 overs - losing their final seven wickets for just 33 runs.

"We showed a lot of character and played some really good cricket in the last two months," Jayawardene said. "Credit to the boys for coming back and finishing off with a win."

Jayawardene, however, was disappointed with not having won the series, but he admitted India deserved to win.

"The Indians played very well and they deserved to win," he added.

"We made mistakes and were not consistent especially with out batting. If you want to win matches, then your batting ought to come good."

Sri Lanka made several changes to the side for the final game, resting veterans Chaminda Vaas, Muttiah Muralitharan as well as Tillakaratne Dilshan.

Jayawardene said he had wanted to give some new players an opportunity on the international stage.

"We played with a different combination today as we wanted to give some of the others an opportunity," he said.

"In previous games we played six batsmen and five bowlers, but its not about the combination.

"It's a question of adapting to the conditions and that's what we did today."

Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni was delighted on winning the series, India's first since 1985.

"Winning the toss here was significant," said Dhoni who won the in all four previous matches.

"The ball always does a bit under lights and there is always a little assistance for the fast bowlers.

"I'm very happy with the way we have performed. We lost the first match at Dambulla because we were a little low at that point.

"But we worked on our basics and got it right. We dearly wanted to series win in Sri Lanka because that's something we haven't managed in the past.

"So it's a tremendous feeling to have finally achieved that."

Dhoni, named Man of the Series, played down the significance of his contributions with the bat in the tournament.

"I think someone else would have got the runs even I hadn't got them," he said.

"I though Suresh Raina batted very well and there were contributions from Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli as well.

"Everyone has contributed and shouldered responsibility and that's the significant part of this triumph."