The No. 3 batsman’s unbeaten 73 off 45 balls left the home team with yet another win to spare; Guest captain Shanaka’s quick innings of 74 runs went in vain
The No. 3 batsman’s unbeaten 73 off 45 balls left the home team with yet another win to spare; Guest captain Shanaka’s quick innings of 74 runs went in vain
No one can stop Shreyas Iyer. After scoring back-to-back half-centuries in the first two T20Is against Sri Lanka, the 27-year-old remained unbeaten on 73 off 45 balls as India beat the touring team by six wickets in the third T20I to clean sweep. ,
Chasing a target of 147 at the HPCA Stadium on Sunday, India captain Rohit Sharma opened the innings with Sanju Samson as Ishan Kishan was out of the fixture after being hit on the helmet in the previous game.
Rohit fell cheap
But Rohit 5 (9b, 1×4) was sent off packing for the sixth time in T20Is by Dushmantha Chamira. The Sri Lankan pacer came up with a length delivery outside off-stump, which was lured by Rohit to a catch to Chamika Karunaratne at mid-off.
After the captain came back in the dugout, the responsibility fell on Shreyas again. He and Samson put on 45 runs for the second wicket, helping India cross the 50-run mark in seven overs. Soon after, a brilliant delivery from Karunaratne saw Samson dismissing Dinesh Chandimal behind the stumps.
Danushka Gunathilaka was bowled by Mohammad Siraj. photo credit: AFP
Shreyas creates another stand with Deepak Hooda (12, 16b). While Hooda hit a four and a six, Shreyas made sure there were no slip ups. However, a yorker from Lahiru Kumara hit the stumps of Hooda. After a few overs, Venkatesh Iyer was also dismissed cheaply, taking a catch from Kumara in place of Jayavikrama.
In came Ravindra Jadeja, who backed Shreyas again and put on a 45-run partnership to pave the way for India’s victory. Jadeja’s 22 runs in 15 balls had three fours.
Earlier, India’s decision to rest Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Yuzvendra Chahal did not have much impact as Mohammad Siraj, Avesh Khan and Ravi Bishnoi restricted the touring side to 146 for five. Avesh took two wickets (2/23), Siraj and Bishnoi took one wicket each.
None of the top-order batsmen followed Sri Lanka’s move to bat first. On the last ball of the first over, Siraj dismissed Danushka Gunathilaka for a duck. In the next over, Avesh sent Pathum Nissenka packing for a solitary run.
Sri Lanka needed to regroup after losing two early wickets but lacked intent. Avesh again hit a four in the fourth over, dismissed Charit Aslanka for four. Struggling at 14 for three in five overs, Zenith Lianage (9, 19 b) and Dinesh Chandimal (25, 27 b, 2 × 4) tried to rebuild but Lianage’s stay at the crease was cut short by Bishnoi. Gave. The experienced Chandimal then added 31 runs with skipper Dasun Shanaka (No.74, 38B, 9×4, 2×6).
Not many expected Sri Lanka to make a comeback after scoring 60 for five. But Shanaka and Karunaratne (No. 12, 19B) put on 86 runs for the sixth wicket.
However, with Shreyas persevering, India equaled the record for most consecutive T20I wins – 12.
score board
Sri Lanka
Pathum Nisanka c Venkatesh b Avesh 1 (10b)Danushka Gunathilaka b Siraj 0 (1b)Charit Aslanka c Samson b Avesh 4 (6b, 1×4)Janith Lianage b Bishnoi 9 (19b)Dinesh Chandimal c Venkatesh b Harshal 22 (27b, 2×4)Dasun Shanaka (not out) 74 (38b, 9×4, 2×6)Chamika Karunaratne (not out) 12 (19b), Extra (B-4, LB-14, W-6): 24; Total (for five wickets. In 20 overs): 146.
fall of wickets
1-1 (Gunathilaka, 0.6 ov), 2-5 (Nisanka 1.5), 3-11 (Aslanka 3.6), 4-29 (Lianage, 8.3), 5-60 (Chandimal 12.1).
India’s bowling
Siraj 4-0-22-1, Avesh 4-1-23-2, Harshal 4-0-29-1, Kuldeep 4-0-22-0, Bishnoi 4-0-32-1.
India
Sanju Samsonc Chandimal b Karunaratne 18 (12b, 3×4)Rohit Sharmac Karunaratne b Chameera 5 (9b, 1×4)Shreyas Iyer (not out) 73 (45b, 9×4, 1×6)Deepak Hooda b Kumara 21 (16b, 1×4, 1×6)Venkatesh Iyer c sub (Jaywickrama) b Kumara 5 (4b, 1×4)Ravindra Jadeja (not out) 22 (15b, 3×4), extra (w-4): 4; Total (for four wickets in 16.5 overs): 148.
fall of wickets
1-6 (Rohit, 1.4), 2-51 (Samson, 6.2), 3-89 (Hooda, 10.5), 4-103 (Venkatesh, 12.2).
Sri Lanka bowling
Binura 4-0-35-0, Chamira 3-0-19-1, Kumara 3.5-0-39-2, Karunaratne 3.4-0-31-1, Wandersey 2.2-0-24-0.
Toss: Sri Lanka; MOM and Series: Shreyas. India won by six wickets with 19 balls to spare and won the series 3-0,
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