New Delhi: In the fifth and final T20 match played at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram, the Indian women’s team defeated Sri Lanka by 15 runs, securing a 5-0 series whitewash. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur’s fighting innings and the bowlers’ disciplined performance led India to another memorable victory.
Captain Harmanpreet’s decisive innings
After a shaky start to India’s innings, captain Harmanpreet Kaur took charge. She scored 68 runs off 43 balls, including 9 fours and 1 six. Her innings, with a strike rate of over 158, helped India reach a respectable total.
Arundhati Reddy’s late surge
In the death overs, Arundhati Reddy completely turned the match in India’s favor. She smashed an unbeaten 27 runs off just 11 balls, including 4 fours and 1 six. Thanks to her efforts, India reached 175 runs in 20 overs.
Sri Lanka’s efforts fall short
Chasing a target of 176 runs, Hasini Perera put up a valiant fight for Sri Lanka, scoring 65 runs off 42 balls. Imesha Dulani also played a crucial innings of 50 runs, but continuous wickets falling in the middle overs put Sri Lanka under pressure.
Bowlers’ smart play secures the win
The Indian bowlers maintained their grip on the match by taking wickets at crucial moments. Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Vaishnavi Sharma, and Arundhati Reddy each took a wicket, restricting Sri Lanka to 160/7 and securing a 15-run victory for India.
Story Highlights
- India defeated Sri Lanka by 15 runs to win the series 5-0
- Captain Harmanpreet Kaur played a crucial innings of 68 runs off 43 balls
- Arundhati Reddy’s unbeaten 27 runs off 11 balls boosted the score
- Hasini Perera’s 65 runs were not enough to secure a win for Sri Lanka