India beat Sri Lanka by 15 runs in the fifth T20I in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday (December 30) to end the cricketing year on a high and clinch the series 5-0. The result wrapped up a series of complete dominance by the Indian women who won each of the five matches in the bilateral affair. While India posted 175/7 in their 20 overs. In the run chase, Sri Lanka could only muster 160/7.
It was Harmanpreet Kaur who led from the front for India in the final T20I, scoring 68 runs off 43 deliveries with the help of 9 boundaries and a six, at a strike rate of 158.14. Along with Harmanpreet’s heroics with the bat, it was Arundhati Reddy’s lower order impetus worth 27 runs off 11 balls that helped India women finish strong.
In response, despite Hasini Perera’s 65 off 42 and Imesha Dulani’s 50 off 39, Sri Lanka fell 15 runs short. Each of the six Indian bowlers used on the day picked up a wicket each. Deepti Sharma who conceded 28 runs in her 4-over spell was the most economical. After her heroics with the bat, Arundhati returned to pick up a wicket, giving away 16 runs in her 2 overs.
Sri Lanka came nowhere close in the first three matches
In the first three matches of the series, India comfortably beat Sri Lanka. While the first two matches were played in in Visakhapatnam, the series moved to Thiruvananthapuram from the 3rd T20I. In each of the first three matches, Sri Lanka batted first, posted a modest score which India chased down with ease. India won the series opener by 8 wickets, the second match by 7 wickets and the third T20I by 8 wickets.
Better fight from Sri Lanka in final 2 T20Is but India still on top
It was a better show from Sri Lanka in the final 2 T20Is. In both these fixtures, it was India who batted first. They managed a record-shattering 221/2 in 20 overs in the 4th T20I. In response, Sri Lanka managed 191/6 before losing the last match of the series.