Thiruvananthapuram: Team India continued their complete dominance over Sri Lanka by registering a 15-run victory in the fifth and final Women’s T20 at Thiruvananthapuram, thereby clean-sweeping the series. Sri Lanka, who were desperate to avoid a whitewash, put up a fight but ultimately fell short against India’s strong performance.
Chasing a target of 176 runs, the Sri Lankan women managed 160 runs for the loss of seven wickets in their allotted 20 overs. Opener Hasini Perera top-scored with 65 runs, while Imesha Dulaney, batting at number three, contributed 50 runs. However, the failure of the middle order proved costly, preventing Sri Lanka from reaching the target.
Earlier, batting first after losing the toss, India posted 175 for 7 in 20 overs. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur anchored the innings with a splendid half-century, providing stability after early setbacks. India lost wickets early, with Shafali Verma dismissed for 5 when the score was just five. Openers G. Kamalini and Harleen Deol also failed to settle, scoring 12 and 13 runs respectively, leaving India struggling at 41 for 3.
Despite wickets falling at the other end, Harmanpreet batted with composure and built crucial partnerships. Richa Ghosh (5) and Deepti Sharma (7) could not make significant contributions, but Harmanpreet stitched together a valuable sixth-wicket partnership with Amanjot Kaur, taking India past the 100-run mark. Amanjot scored 21 runs before being dismissed.
Harmanpreet was eventually dismissed in the 18th over after a superb knock of 68 runs off 43 balls, which included nine fours and one six. In the final overs, Arundhati Reddy played a brisk cameo, smashing 27 runs off just 11 balls, helping India finish strongly at 175.
India then defended the total successfully to seal a 15-run win and complete a series whitewash over Sri Lanka.
