Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara called for a repeat performance in the final of the tri-series after they defeated India.

Sanath Jayasuriya made a bustling 98 and Thilina Kandamby smacked an unbeaten 91 as Sri Lanka piled a formidable 307 for six batting first.

Angelo Mathews then picked up six for 20 runs in six overs as India's chase faltered and petered out inside 38 overs, the visitors managing a feeble 168 to hand the home side a 139-run victory.

The game was a dead rubber as both teams had already progressed to Monday's final, but Sangakkara brushed aside suggestions that the match was insignificant.

"Every game is important because you take some confidence into the next game with every win you achieve," Sangakkara said.

"No matter the result today, we still have to turn up on Monday and do the same thing if not better.

"I think the important thing for us is to get the process right.

India dislodged from top spot

"It is no use just wanting to win, it's the process that matters.

"Today we got a good start, the middle order really finished things off, a couple of batsmen batted long and built partnerships and it was backed up by good fielding and bowling.

"I think those are the ingredients for victory and hopefully we can be consistent in that process and really apply our skills every single day we turn up."

Jayasuriya gave the side a flying start, putting on 57 for the opening wicket with Tillakaratne Dilshan in quick time.

The left-hander, who has had a string of failures in the recent past and whose place in the side was under threat, went on to hit the bowlers around the park, but fell agonisingly short of a deserved century.

It's all about numbers!

Sangakkara was pleased with the former captain's performance.

"It was great to see Sanath returning to form. We expected that at some point and it's pleasing that it came sooner rather than later," Sangakkara said.

"He gave us a solid start and it was good to see the middle order come in and finish things off for us.

"However, the best time to be a critic is when you win and I think we lost too many wickets at crucial times.

"But we made up for it with our middle order and our bowling."

Top Performer: Angelo Matthews

Sangakkara also praised Mathews and marked him out as a talent for the future.

"He's a very solid player and for someone so young he's got a very mature thinking process," Sangakkara said.

"He is an all-rounder we have been looking for and we hope he keeps going and cements his place in the side.

"Talent is one thing, real hard work and performance is another and I think he's on the right track.

"He's got a great future and I'm sure he will not let this early success get to his head."

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni struggled to explain the defeat.

"The only positive we can take from today is that it's behind us," Dhoni said. "The only thing that went right was the warm-up session.

"We then lost the toss and everything else went haywire.

"It was one of the worst days at work."

India were playing their second match in as many days and Dhoni believed playing back-to-back matches was a struggle, especially for the fast bowlers.

"This format is demanding and the fast bowlers had bowled their hearts out yesterday," Dhoni said.

"Again turning up today, losing the toss and bowling first was a bit of a disadvantage.

"I'm quite pleased with the effort they put in although we were nowhere close to the point at which we should have performed.

"It is demanding but that is the way it goes."

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