In the fifth ODI game, England batsman Jos Buttler was controversially run out backing-up at the non-striker's end by Sri Lankan bowler Sachithra Senanayake, a dismissal called Mankading.

[11] Senanayake had warned Buttler twice before in the same game about moving out of his crease, before he removed his bails and appealed to umpire Michael Gough.

[11] Speaking after the game, Sri Lankan captain Angelo Mathews defended the decision by saying "what we did was completely within the rules.

[12] Australian captain Michael Clarke said that "I think as long as the player's warned, it's in the rules so you can make whatever decision you want".

[13] Buttler's dismissal by Senanayake was the first instance of Mankading in international cricket since Peter Kirsten's innings was ended by Kapil Dev during an ODI between South Africa and India in 1992.