Harmanpreet leads Women in Blue to 15-run win over Sri Lanka in 5th T20I
Thiruvananthapuram: Bowlers produced a spotless effort after skipper Harmanpreet Kaur led the way with a doughty 68 as dominant India defeated Sri Lanka by 15 runs in the fifth T20I to complete a 5-0 whitewash, here on Tuesday.
Harmanpreet’s first fifty of the series came at an important juncture in the game when India were left struggling at 77 for five, as her 43-ball knock took the hosts to 175 for five.
Sri Lanka responded with half-centuries from opener Hasini Perera (65) and Imesha Dulani (50) but failed to find the flourish towards the end, finishing at 160 for seven. India thus capped an exceptional World Cup-winning year on a bright note.
Despite losing skipper Chamari Athapaththu early, Sri Lanka remained in contention through a steady 79-run second-wicket stand between Perera and Dulani.
Dulani struck eight fours in her 39-ball knock, while Perera anchored the innings, but a cluster of wickets after the halfway mark dented Sri Lanka’s momentum. The Islanders were unable to produce the late surge required as India’s spinners tightened the screws.
Amanjot Kaur provided the breakthrough by dismissing Dulani in the 12th over, and Deepti Sharma soon capitalised, trapping Nilakshika Silva leg-before. Deepti finished with figures of 1/28 and, in the process, became the leading wicket-taker in women’s T20Is, overtaking Australia’s Megan Schutt.
Perera’s dismissal in the 17th over effectively ended Sri Lanka’s chase, with Vaishnavi Sharma also bowling a disciplined spell as India closed out the contest clinically.
Earlier, India were in deep trouble after a top-order collapse, but Harmanpreet counter-attacked with authority, striking nine fours and a six. Her crucial 61-run stand with Amanjot ensured India had a defendable total, while Arundhati Reddy’s unbeaten 27 off 11 balls provided the late impetus.
