Sri Lanka women clinch Twenty20 series against India

Skipper Shashikala Siriwardene produced an all-round display to help Sri Lanka women notch up a six-wicket win over India in the third T20 international and clinch the three-match series 2-1 in Vishakhapatnam.

Siriwardene led from the front as she scored an unbeaten 46 off 42 balls laced with four boundaries and one six, after giving away just 11 runs in her three overs and picking up a wicket at the Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium.

Bowling first, Sri Lanka’s trio of Udeshika Prabodhani (2/20), Maduri Samuddika (2/18) and Eshani Kaushalya (1/19) produced a disciplined bowling effort to restrict India to 117 for eight in their stipulated 20 overs.

The visitors then came back to overhaul the target with seven balls to spare, scoring 121 for four, courtesy Siriwardene’s 46.

The captain was ably supported by Deepika Rasangika (21), Eshani Kaushalya (24) and Chamari Kumarihami (16).

Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur’s decision to bat first backfired as within seven balls both their openers –Vellaswamy Vanitha (4) and Smriti Mandhana (1) – were back in the pavilion.

Kaur (2) too could not stay longer and was dismissed by Prabodhani in the third over and in the next over Karu Jain was run out to leave India tottering at 12 for four in 3.4 overs.

Poonam Raut (38) and Ekta Bisht (15) then tried to steady the ship but after six overs, the latter was sent back to the hut by Samuddika. Next batter Amita Sharma (4) also fell cheaply.

Jhulan Goswami (38) and Poonam then added 37 runs before the latter was dismissed by Siriwardene in the 17th over. Goswami then took India past the 100-mark.

BRIEF SCORES

India women: 117-8 in 20 overs (Poonam Raut 38, Jhulan Goswami 37; Maduri Samuddika 2/18).

Sri Lanka Women: 121-4 in 18.5 overs (Shashikala Siriwardene 46; Ekta Bisht 2/22).

PTI