3rd T20 highlights: India crush Sri Lanka by 78 runs, win series 2-0
Sent into bat, India rode on K L Rahul (54 off 36) and Shikhar Dhawan's (52 off 36) 97-run opening stand to post a challenging 201 for six in their allotted 20 overs.
 "India cricket team")
Indian bowler Navdeep Saini celebrate with team mates the wicket of Sri Lankan batsman Kusal Perera during the third T20 cricket match against Sri Lanka and India at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune. Photo: PTI
India defeated Sri Lanka by 78 runs in the third and final T20 International to win the the three-match series 2-0 at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune on Friday. Sent into bat, India rode on K L Rahul (54 off 36) and Shikhar Dhawan's (52 off 36) 97-run opening stand to post a challenging 201 for six in their allotted 20 overs. Manish Pandey then smashed 31 off 18 balls and skipper Virat Kohli, batting at number six, scored a brisk 17-ball 26.
But India wouldn't have crossed 200-run mark had it not been for Shardul Thakur's blistering 22 off only eight balls. He smashed two sixes and a boundary. Defending the total, the Indian bowlers, led by right-arm pacer Navdeep Saini (3/28) Shardul Thakur (2/19), dished out a disciplined effort to bundle out Sri Lanka for 123 in 15.5 overs. Off-spinner Washington Sundar also picked up two wickets giving away 37 runs from his four overs. India, thus, won the series 2-0 after registering a comprehensive seven-wicket win in the second T20 International in Indore. The first match of the series was washed out in Guwahati without a ball being bowled.
India innings report
Shikhar Dhawan roared back to form with a muscular half-century in company of a sublime KL Rahul as India posted a competitive 201 for 6 against Sri Lanka despite a middle-order collapse in the third T20 International on Friday.
Dhawan, who has been under pressure for some time smashed 52 off 36 balls (7x4; 1x6) in his 97-run opening stand with the in-form Rahul (54 off 36 balls, 5x4;1x6).
However, the hosts suffered a middle-order collapse with Sri Lankan wrist spinners Wanidu Hasaranga (1-27) and chinaman Lakshan Sandakan (3-35) spun their web around the batsmen on a flat track.
But Manish Pandey, playing his first game of the tournament, hit an unbeaten 31 off 18 balls and Shardul Thakur once again revelled as a lower-order pinch-hitter (22 not out off 8 balls; 1x4, 2x6) to ensure that the hosts crossed 200-run mark.
Rahul set the tone playing a cut shot off rival skipper Lasith Malinga for his first boundary. Dhawan got an early 'life', when Dasun Shanaka dropped one at deep square leg. Rahul, then hit two consecutive boundaries, both drives, off Angelo Mathews as India raced to 22/0.
The visitors introduced off-spinner Dhananjaya De Silva in the fourth over, but Dhawan welcomed him with a four over long-on. Rahul then dispatched a Silva full-toss over long leg for a maximum as India amassed 13 runs in it.
Dhawan changed his gears as he hammered two boundaries in fifth over as India reached team total of 50.
Making optimum use of the life, Dhawan smashed back-to-back fours, slashing one over backward point and another through extra cover off pacer Lahiru Kumara. The duo was coasting along well as India after 9 overs were 82/0.
After two quiet overs, Dhawan smashed Hasaranga over deep mid-wicket for a six.
Soon after completing his 10th T20I fifty, Dhawan perished after giving a sitter to Dhanushka Gunathilika off Sandakan at deep mid-wicket. However his innings certainly will make Virat Kohli's choice of Rohit Sharma's partner difficult for the upcoming Australia series.
Sanju Samson (6) got his much-awaited chance as he was promoted at No 3 and smashed a six on the first ball but was trapped in the front by Hasaranga as India slumped to 106/2.
Sandakan then pegged back the hosts by removing Rahul and Shreyas Iyer (4) in the 13th over as the hosts were in spot of bother at 122/4. While Rahul was stumped, Shreyas gave a return return catch to Sandakan.
However, then skipper Kohli (26 off 17 balls, 2x4; 1x6) and Pandey tried to rally the innings before Kohli and Washington Sundar (0) were dismissed in the 18th over. But Shardul's slogging got India past par-score mark.
Over 15.5; India win
Navdeep Saini [3.0-0-23-1] is back into the attack
Lahiru Kumara, left handed bat, comes to the crease
Lasith Malinga, right handed bat, comes to the crease
Over 15: Sundar scalps Sandakan
Washington Sundar [3.0-0-30-1] is back into the attack
Over 14; Sri Lanka need 91 runs in 36 balls
Shardul Thakur [2.0-0-17-1] is back into the attack
Lakshan Sandakan, right handed bat, comes to the crease
Wanindu Hasaranga, right handed bat, comes to the crease
Ball 3: Shanaka gets caught and bowled. Shanaka c and b SN Thakur 9(9) [6s-1]
Over 13; Sri Lanka need 93 runs in 42 balls
Yuzvendra Chahal [2.0-0-20-0] is back into the attack
Over 12; Sundar scalps Mathews
Washington Sundar [2.0-0-22-0] is back into the attack
Dasun Shanaka, right handed bat, comes to the crease
Over 11; Sri Lanka need 114 runs in 54 balls
Navdeep Saini [2.0-0-13-1] is back into the attack
Over 10; Sri Lanka need 124 runs in 60 balls
Over 9; Washington Sundar concedes 19 runs
Washington Sundar continues
Over 8
Yuzvendra Chahal, right-arm leg break, comes into the attack
Over 7; Sri Lanka need 163 runs in 78 balls
Washington Sundar, right-arm off break, comes into the attack
Over 6; Sri Lanka need 167 runs in 84 balls
Navdeep Saini [1.0-0-4-0] is back into the attack
Ball 2: de Silva smashes FOUR
Dhananjaya de Silva, right handed bat, comes to the crease
Over 5
Shardul Thakur [1.0-0-6-1] is back into the attack
Over 4; Bumrah bowls a maiden as SL lose third wicket
Jasprit Bumrah [1.0-0-5-1] is back into the attack
Over 3; CRR: 5 REQ: 11
Navdeep Saini, right-arm fast, comes into the attack
Ball 1: Kusal Perera gets beaten outside off.
Over 2; Shardul strikes
Shardul Thakur, right-arm fast medium, comes into the attack
Oshada Fernando, right handed bat, comes to the crease
Kusal Perera, left handed bat, comes to the crease
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First Published: Jan 10 2020 | 4:26 PM IST
