By: ChandrashekarRana
SRI LANKA continued its resurgence to defeat the Covid-battered India by seven wickets in the third T20 international on Thursday (29) and win the three-match series 2-1.
The hosts’ victory was shaped by spinner Wanindu Hasaranga who took his career-best T20 haul of four wickets for just nine runs on his 24th birthday to reduce India to 81-8, a total Sri Lanka overhauled in 14.3 overs in Colombo.
He also returned with the bat to complete the hosts’ victory in the company of Dhananjaya de Silva who made an unbeaten 23, after Indian leg-spinner Rahul Chahar sent back the top three including wicketkeeper-batsman Minod Bhanuka for 18.
“You can see all the players performing and handling different situations. I am lucky to lead this team,” Sri Lanka skipper Dasun Shanaka said after the win.
Hasaranga was the star of the day after his twin strikes, including Sanju Samson for nought in the fifth over of India’s innings, put Sri Lanka in charge.
Skipper Shikhar Dhawan was out for nought in the first over off pace bowler Dushmantha Chameera after India elected to bat first.
Number seven Kuldeep Yadav made an unbeaten 23 to take India past their lowest ever T20 score of 74 against Australia in 2008.
The total was India’s lowest against the island nation after they were bowled out for 101 in 2016.
“The wicket was slow, our spinners bowled really well,” said man of the match and series Hasaranga, who took seven wickets in three matches.
“When I bowl, I always try to bowl dot balls, that’s why I pick up wickets.”
Shanaka took two wickets including a sharp return catch to send back Nitish Rana for six.
Sri Lanka on Wednesday (28) bounced back from an opening loss to win the second match, delayed by one day after India’s Krunal Pandya tested positive for coronavirus putting him in isolation along with eight close contacts.
“It was a difficult situation for us but as a team, we decided we will stay and play the series,” said Dhawan, who was appointed captain for the tour after Virat Kohli’s Test side travelled to England.
“Lots of learnings for me as captain,” he added.
India won the three-match 50-overs series 2-1 after its start was pushed back by five days due to a Covid-19 outbreak in the Sri Lankan camp.
