Bowlers delivered a flawless performance after captain Harmanpreet Kaur led with a gritty 68, as dominant India defeated Sri Lanka by 15 runs in the fifth T20I, achieving a 5-0 series sweep on Tuesday.
Harmanpreet’s first half-century of the series came at a crucial time when India was struggling at 77 for five. Her 43-ball innings helped the hosts reach 175 for five.
Sri Lanka responded with half-centuries from opener Hasini Perera (65) and Imesha Dulani (50) but fell short, ending at 160 for seven. India concluded an exceptional World Cup-winning year on a high note.
Despite losing their captain Chamari Athapaththu (2) early in the chase, Sri Lanka maintained hope with a second-wicket partnership of 79 runs between Perera and Dulani.
Perera and Dulani batted confidently, consistently finding boundaries and rotating the strike, but their inability to hit sixes during their 56-ball partnership kept Sri Lanka slightly behind the required rate.
Sri Lanka’s No. 3 Dulani struck eight fours in her 39-ball innings, while Perera anchored one end with her 42-ball knock. However, a cluster of wickets saw the required run rate surge past 13 per over.
Sri Lanka needed a strong finish in the second half but couldn’t deliver as Indian spinners Deepti Sharma (1/28) and Vaishnavi Sharma (1/33) bowled restrictive spells.
Amanjot Kaur (1/17) dismissed Dulani in the 12th over to give India an opening, which Deepti capitalised on.
Deepti trapped Nilakshika Silva leg-before in the 14th over, becoming the leading wicket-taker in women’s T20Is with her 152nd dismissal in 134 matches at 18.62, surpassing Australia’s Megan Schutt (151 wickets in 123 matches at 16.57).
Perera’s departure in the 17th over shut the door on Sri Lanka.
Earlier, a resilient knock from skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (68) and a late assault from Arundhati Reddy (27 not out) helped India reach a competitive 175 for seven.
India was tottering at 77 for five after 10 overs, but Harmanpreet stood tall with her first impactful knock of the series.
Arundhati then hit four fours and a six in a crucial 11-ball 27 not out, pushing the hosts past the 150-mark.
Harmanpreet struck nine fours and a six in her 43-ball innings, impressing with powerful shots on both sides of the wicket. Her 61-run sixth wicket partnership with Amanjot Kaur (21) was equally significant.
For most of her innings, Harmanpreet kept losing partners, which dented India’s hopes for a bigger total. However, with Amanjot’s support, the Indian captain ensured her bowlers had a defendable total.
Using the long handle effectively, Harmanpreet also pierced the field adeptly on the off-side for several boundaries.
India did not have an ideal start with the new opening pair of debutant G Kamalini and Shafali Verma falling cheaply after vice-captain Smriti Mandhana was rested for this match.
Coming off three consecutive fifties, Shafali (5) aimed to attack from the beginning but was caught at long-on by Imesha Dulani off Nimasha Meepage in the second over.
Kamalini (12) hit a couple of fours in her debut but missed connecting an attempted sweep off Kavisha Dilhari (2/11) and was trapped in front. An attempt to overturn the decision through DRS proved futile.
India’s hopes for a partnership rested on Harleen Deol (13) and Harmanpreet. However, after receiving a lifeline through a dropped catch, Harleen went for a big heave across the line off Rashmika Sewwandi, only to edge onto her stumps.
The slide continued for India when Athapaththu (2/21) claimed the fourth wicket, getting the dangerous Richa Ghosh (5) caught behind, leaving India in trouble at 64 for four. Deepti Sharma (7) also fell to the Lankan captain, bringing India to 77 for five.
