Sri Lanka beat listless India in 3rd T20 to clinch series 2-1

SRI Lankan leg spinner Wanindu Hasaranga registered his career-best bowling figures (four wickets for nine runs) in the third and deciding Twenty20 game against India at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo that helped the hosts beat a depleted Indian side by seven wickets to pocket the series 2-1. The player, who turned 24 the same day, was adjudged both the man of the match and series.

It was the islanders’ first T20 series win since their 3-0 victory against India in 2019. They had lost five consecutive series since then. India, on the other hand, lost a series after winning six consecutive ones.

India skipper Shikhar Dhawan won the toss and elected to bat first but his side was always out under check by the Lankan bowlers. India could manage only 81 runs in their allotted 20 overs with Kuldeep Singh top scoring with 23 at No.7. It was India’s third-lowest total in the shortest format of the game.

For Sri Lanka, captain Dasun Shanaka, a right-arm seam bowler, took two wickets for 20 runs.

The home team did not have much of a problem in chasing down the modest target and they reached home losing just three wickets and with 33 deliveries to go. Dhananjaya de Silva, who took his home to a series-equalling win on Wednesday (27), remained not out on 23 to be his side’s top scorer. Hasaranga also chipped in with 14 not out as the duo added unbeaten 26 runs to give Sri Lanka the series.

For India, leg-spinner Rahul Chahar took all the three wickets for 15 runs in four overs.

India were forced to field depleted sides in the final two games of the series held on consecutive days after several of their players were isolated because of Covid-19. They had to even play fast bowler Sandeep Warrier who was flown in with the team as a net bowler. The players were sent into isolation after they were found to be around all-rounder Krunal Pandya who tested positive. The second game was postponed by a day as a result.

India won the first match by 38 runs after winning the one-day international series 2-1.