Left-hander Yuvraj Singh's smashing 75 led India's run-scoring yesterday after its top five wickets perished for just 100 runs.
Singh's two-hour knock contained one six and 13 boundaries off 83 balls. His effort was got the backing of lower-order batsmen Ajit Agarkar (48), Irfan Pathan (27), Anil Kumble (23 not out) and last man Harbhajan Singh (19 not out).
Seeking to set the tourists a massive target, India was rattled by the first-ball dismissal of opener Virender Sehwag (0) and the early departure of first-innings centurion V.V.S. Laxman (5).
Sehwag was caught by Farveez Maharoof at third-man trying to slash a delivery from paceman Lasith Malinga, while Laxman edged Maharoof to wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara.
Sachin Tendulkar (19) fell LBW to Dilshan and the Indian slide continued as opener Gautam Gambhir (30) was caught behind off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan (3-90) and Mohammad Kaif (9) fell LBW to Malinga Bhandara (3-67).
Sri Lanka had earlier avoided the embarrassment of being asked to bat again through a valiant 65 by Tillakaratne Dilshan, who held off India's rampant spinner Harbhajan Singh who bagged seven wickets for 62.
England vs. Pakistan
England will play for pride and points in the international rankings in the fifth and final one-day match against Pakistan today after losing the series.
"It is not an ideal situation to go into the last match with the series already decided, but a lot of ranking points are up for grabs and a lot of pride in how we play," said acting captain Marcus Trescothick, after his team's narrow 13-run defeat late on Monday.
Pakistan took an unassailable 3-1 lead, surviving a late-order England rally through Kabir Ali (39 not out) and Ian Blackwell (29) who added 50 for the ninth wicket after the home team managed a modest 210. Ali then partnered last man James Anderson in a 33-run stand before paceman Shoaib Akhtar had Anderson caught in the slips by Younis Khan with 11 balls left in the fourth match.
England currently lie seventh in the 10-team International Cricket Council (ICC) one-day rankings.
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