(ESPNCRICINFO) -INDIA completed a dominant series sweep over Sri Lanka, clinching the fifth and final T20I in Thiruvananthapuram by 15 runs. Posting 175 for 7, thanks to a commanding 68 from Harmanpreet Kaur, India’s bowlers then restricted Sri Lanka to 160 for 7 despite fighting half-centuries from Hasini Perera and Imesha Dulani, sealing a comprehensive victory.
During the course of the match, Deepti Sharma became the leading wicket-taker in women’s T20Is with 152 scalps, surpassing Australia’s Megan Schutt. This was India’s third 5-0 sweep in T20Is, following similar clean sweeps against West Indies in 2019 and Bangladesh in 2024. India and England are the only teams with three whitewashes of five-match series in women’s T20Is.
Sri Lanka strike early with the ball
Unlike the fourth match, when India raced to 61 without loss in the powerplay, Sri Lanka struck early on Tuesday despite little help for spinners from the pitch. Shafali Verma, coming off a hat-trick of half-centuries, was dismissed for 5 by left-arm spinner Nimisha Meepage once again, from around the wicket, lofting a catch to long-on. Debutant G Kamalini, who replaced Smriti Mandhana, was trapped lbw after mistiming a sweep off Kavisha Dilhari’s first ball. With 40 for 2, India posted their lowest powerplay score in this series.
Soon after, the No.3 Harleen Deol was bowled by Rashmika Sewwandi. Two overs later, Richa Ghosh nicked one behind off Chamari Athapaththu’s offspin, leaving India 64 for 4 in the ninth over. Athapaththu struck again soon after, deceiving Deepti with her pace and flight as the left-hander top-edged a sweep to short fine leg, reducing India to 77 for 5.
Harmanpreet takes off
Harmanpreet arrived with India 24 for 2 in the fifth over and anchored the innings even as wickets fell around her, steering India to a competitive total. The India captain combined caution with intent to bring up her first T20I fifty since October 2024, reaching the milestone in 35 balls after moving from 10 off 9 with a flurry of boundaries.
She dominated the key contest against left-arm spinner Inoka Ranaweera, scoring 31 off 17 balls, including four fours and a six, with 94% control. It was a well-paced innings, marked by smart footwork against spin, as she took the game deep and scored all around the ground. Her innings ended with Dilhari’s clever arm ball that produced an inside edge and rattled the stumps. India was 142 for 7 in the 18th over.