3rd T20I: Shafali smashes 79 not out as India clinch series with eight-wicket win over Sri Lanka
India Women seal 3‑0 lead in Sri Lanka series
In Thiruvananthapuram on December 26, India Women pulled off a convincing win over Sri Lanka Women in the third of a five‑match T20I series. The match, staged at the Greenfield International Stadium, saw India post 115/2 in 13.2 overs – a victory by eight wickets that puts the series beyond reach.
India’s opener, Shafali Verma, was the main catalyst of the win. She was unbeaten on 79 from just 42 balls, smashing 11 fours and three sixes. After an opening over of three dot balls, she went on a devastating run‑rate, hitting a six off Malsha Shehani and quickly piling up boundaries against Nimesha Madushani. Her 50 came in just 24 balls, and she finished with a powerful lofted four to seal the chase.
The Sri Lankan bowlers were largely stifled, with Renuka Singh Thakur taking 4‑21 and Deepti Sharma 3‑18, restricting the hosts to 112 for 7. However, Sri Lanka did get a few lights – Imesha Dulani and Hasini Perera made brief 27 and 25 with the bat – but could not stop India’s momentum.
India’s captain, Harmanpreet Kaur, added a steady 21 not out, while vice‑captain Smriti Mandhana was dismissed for one in a costly lbw. Another Sri Lankan, Jemimah Rodrigues, was taken by Kavisha Dilhari after a mis‑timed sweep.
With the win, India now has a clean 3‑0 advantage and is one match away from securing their 4th straight T20I series victory over Sri Lanka.
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