An impressive batting display followed up by clinical bowling performance helped all-round Sri Lanka cruise to a 51-run victory over India in match eight of the ODI tri-series in Brisbane on Tuesday.

The Sri Lankans were on top from the moment Mahela Jayawardene won the toss and batted as they posted the highest score of the series thus far - 289 for six - on the back of half-centuries from Tillakaratne Dilshan and Lahiru Thirimanne.

Thisara Perera then took four wickets and Nuwan Kulasekara three as India succumbed to 238 all out one ball into the 45th over. Only Virat Kohli's half-ton and Irfan Pathan's late hitting provided any hope as the Indian chase lacked the late finishing exploits of suspended captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

After selecting to make first use of the 'Gabba track, Jayawardene combined well with Dilshan to put on the highest first-wicket partnership of the three-nation tournament as they raced to 95 without loss after 18 overs.

Jayawardene, however, failed to push after reaching 45 as he was out to a blinding catch at mid-wicket by his opposition captain Virender Sehwag who was deputising for Dhoni.

Once Jayawardene fell, Dilshan (51) soon followed, but not before he reached his 21st ODI half-ton - his first of the tour. With Sangakkara's (eight) stay being a brief one, Dinesh Chandimal (38) and Thirimanne got the innings back on track with a run-a-ball stand of 71, but there were some nervy moments, particularly for the left-hander who was so nearly run-out in the controversial Mankad method by Ravichandran Ashwin.

The off-spinner saw Thirimanne taking liberty on his backing up at the non-striker's end and promptly clipped the bails off during his delivery stride before appealing. With Thirimanne well short of his ground, the umpires conferred and asked skipper Sehwag if he would like to uphold the appeal. The captain appeared to nod in approval, but the wise head of Sachin Tendulkar intervened and withdrew the appeal.

Still, that warning didn't seem to affect Thirimanne who continued to back up too much and Vinay Kumar then broke his delivery stride to further warn the batsman who, while on strike, showed great form to score a brisk 62. He was eventually caught in the deep by a diving Suresh Raina, but a late flourish from the bat of Angelo Mathews continued the momentum of the Sri Lankans.

The vice-captain hit four boundaries and a six in his unbeaten 49 which propelled Sri Lanka to the formidable 289 for six.

India's reply got off to a shocking start as Sehwag played an irresponsible shot, hardly worthy of a captain, when he chased a wide ball and sent it straight to the hands of Kulasekara at third man before getting off the mark.

The usual mumblings of Sachin Tendulkar's hundredth hundred followed and the usual disappointment was met as the Little Master was bowled by a seaming ball from Kulasekara for 22. Gambhir then played the ball straight into the hands of Perera at gully and at 54 for three India were hardly in a position to win.

Kohli and Raina then combined for a fortuitous stand of 92 where Kohli (66) found himself dropped by Dinesh Chandimal on two occasions within the space of three overs. The fiery right-hander did eventually see his wicket perish as Kulasekara completed another catch to give Perera the first of his four scalps.

With Parthiv Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin and Vinay Kumar all failing to reach double figures, Pathan (47) tried his best to keep India's slim hopes alive, but with an ever-increasing run-rate, the all-rounder buckled under the pressure and handed Perera a return catch which completed the Sri Lankan victory.