Skipper Virat Kohli’s unbeaten 139 trumped that of opposite number Angelo Mathews and completed India’s 5-0 whitewash of Sri Lanka.
Mathews’ first limited-overs century, in his 192nd game, featured an astonishing 10 sixes and accelerated the tourists to 286 for eight, a total they look like defending when India slipped to 231 for seven in the 44th over at Ranchi.
Yet, with Kohli at the crease, the hosts had a chance and Akshar Patel stayed with his captain for the rest of the innings to aid victory by three wickets with eight balls to spare.
Kohli’s knock, his 20th one-day international hundred, occupied 126 deliveries, 10 more than Mathews’.
Lahiru Thirimanne gave the sole meaningful support to Mathews, who won the toss, contributing 52 of the 128 they shared for the sixth wicket.
Seamer Dhawal Kulkarni was the most potent India bowler with three wickets but he went at more than seven an over.
Mathews twice struck early in the reply, secondly to bowl Rohit Sharma for 255 less than his ODI-record 264 in Kolkata on Thursday.
Ambati Rayudu rebuilt alongside Kohli, who led throughout the series in place of the rested Mahendra Singh Dhoni. With 59, Rayudu was the junior partner in a third-wicket stand worth 136.
Sri Lanka spinner Ajantha Mendis, operating on a helpful pitch, did most to undermine the chase with four scalps, although he was also costly and conceded three sixes, all to Kohli, including the winning hit.
The one-sided scoreline in this hastily-arranged series, to plug the gap created by West Indies pulling out midway through their tour of India, leaves Sri Lanka with much to ponder ahead of seven ODIs versus England from November 26.