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Thilan Samaraweera cracked a classy century as Sri Lanka defeated India by five wickets in the second match of the triangular one-day series in Dhaka.

Samaraweera scored an undefeated 105 at nearly a run-a-ball and shared a century partnership with Kumar Sangakkara (60) as Sri Lanka easily chased India's score of 279 for nine.

Virender Sehwag weighed in with a brutal 47 to give India a decent platform, while Yuvraj Singh hit 74, but Chanaka Welegedera claimed five for 66 to peg India to a below-par total.

Samarweera and a lively cameo from Thissara Perera (36 from 15 deliveries) at the end then ensured victory with two overs to spare.

Sangakkara won his second toss in a row, invited India to bat first and found instant success with the wicket of Gautam Gambhir.

Welegedera claimed his first victim when he cleverly slipped in a yorker and hit the base of leg stump to send the aggressive left-hand opener back to the pavilion.

Sehwag, dealing primarily in boundaries, got India back on course for a big total as he added 47 in just under four overs with Virat Kohli for the second wicket.

But Welegedera struck twice in quick succession, first removing Kohli and then Sehwag to leave India stuttering.

Yuvraj and Mahendra Singh Dhoni (37) rebuilt the innings with a 99-run stand for the fourth wicket but, just when they were beginning to open up, Sri Lanka pulled things back again.

Medium pacer Perera struck in his first over to remove Dhoni, caught behind by Sangakkara and Perera found more success with the wicket of Yuvraj.

India again rebuilt through Suresh Raina (35) and Ravindra Jadeja (39), but Welegedera returned to send back Raina and Zaheer Khan and India faltered at the death.

Although Ashish Nehra, who shared the new ball with Zaheer Khan, bowled superbly for no reward at the start, Upul Tharanga (30) and debutant Lahiru Thirimanne (22) had blazed away, the two adding 22 for the opening stand.

First change bowler Shanthakumaran Sreesanth, who was hammered for three boundaries in four deliveries in his first over, then broke through, snaring Thirimanne who miscued a pull and skied to Gambhir at square leg.

Harbhajan Singh then removed Tharanga - caught and bowled and the pressure mounted on Sri Lanka as the run-rate mounted.

The experienced pair of Sangakkara and Samaraweera then came together and hauled Sri Lanka back into contention with a 122-run - off only 126 deliveries - stand for the third wicket.

Sangakkara then threw his wicket away and Thilina Kandamy was Harbhajan's third scalp as India clawed their way back into contention.

Sri Lanka needed 81 from 82 deliveries at the fall of Sangakkara's wicket and although Sri Lanka lost Suraj Randib cheaply they still had the edge.

Samaraweera raised his century off 104 deliveries - only his second century and his best against India in an ODI - and Perera landed some lusty blows to take the game away from India.