Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene has rejected claims that bad fielding cost his side victory in the tied ODI against India in Adelaide on Tuesday.

With India chasing Sri Lanka's 236, Lasith Malinga fumbled on two occasions in the dying overs of the clash, which could have resulted in run-outs for Mahendra Singh Dhoni or Vinay Kumar and in turn won Sri Lanka the game.

However, Jayawardene defended his side's day in the field by highlighting the four run-outs inflicted earlier in the Indian innings.

"I think the fielding got us into the game," he said.

"The run-outs and the way we stopped at least 20 to 25 runs on the field, on a hot day, on a bigger ground as well. We didn't give them any easy twos. Only the last few fumbles. That's the thing. Make or break situations. We have got to be ruthless."

Vice-captain Angelo Mathews was entrusted with bowling the 49th over, with India still needing 24 run to win off 12 balls, and soon conceded 15 runs. Regardless, Jayawardene maintained it was the right decision to give Mathews the ball rather than Thisara Perera.

"This is how these guys are going to learn," he added.

"The more games these guys play, they will become better finishers and they will take more responsibility. That's probably why I had my gut feeling, giving the ball to Angie in the 49th over.

"He changed ends as well. It wasn't a problem for him. He didn't give a single loose ball. He created the pressure for us. Otherwise we probably would have lost in the 46th or 47th over."