The Indian women's cricket team delivered a commanding performance to seal the five-match T20I series against Sri Lanka with a game to spare. A dominant eight-wicket victory in the third match on Friday, powered by a clinical bowling display and a breathtaking innings from Shafali Verma, gave India an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series.
Bowlers Strangle Sri Lanka's Batting Effort
Opting to bat first, the Sri Lankan innings never gained momentum against a disciplined Indian attack. The visitors were restricted to a modest total of 112 for 7 in their 20 overs, a score that was never likely to challenge India's deep batting lineup. The match followed a now-familiar pattern in the series, with India's bowlers taking early control.
Making a strong return to the T20I side after a hiatus since December last year, seamer Renuka Singh Thakur made an immediate impact. She struck with the new ball and returned at crucial junctures to dismantle the top order, finishing with excellent figures of 4 for 21. Her spell was a masterclass in swing, accuracy, and sharp fielding awareness.
Deepti Sharma Reaches Historic Milestone
All-rounder Deepti Sharma was equally effective, playing a perfect supporting role. She finished with impressive figures of 3 for 18. More significantly, her dismissal of Kavisha Dilhari marked a historic moment, as it was her 151st wicket in women's T20 Internationals. This achievement drew her level with Australia's Megan Schutt as the joint-highest wicket-taker in the history of the women's game.
Sri Lanka's innings saw brief resistance from opener Hasini Perera, who played some inventive shots, including a scooped boundary. However, once Deepti Sharma provided the breakthrough by dismissing struggling captain Chamari Athapaththu, the floodgates opened. Renuka's double strike in the powerplay, removing Perera and Harshitha Samarawickrama, left Sri Lanka reeling at three down early. A brief partnership between Dilhari and Imesha Dulani added some respectability, but regular wickets ensured Sri Lanka finished well short of a competitive total.
Shafali Verma's Power-Hitting Seals the Chase
The chase was a one-woman demolition job led by the explosive Shafali Verma. The young opener, continuing her rich vein of form from the previous match, unleashed a barrage of powerful strokes from the outset. After playing out a few dot balls, she announced her intent by charging down the track and launching an enormous 83-metre six.
From that moment, there was only one outcome. Timing the ball superbly and finding gaps with ease, Shafali raced to an unbeaten 79 runs off just 42 balls. Her blistering knock was studded with 11 boundaries and three sixes. While spinner Kavisha Dilhari managed to dismiss Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues, the result was never in doubt. Shafali calmly guided India to the target with a whopping 40 balls to spare, underlining the vast gulf between the two sides.
With this comprehensive win, India has once again showcased its strength across all departments. The series victory was built on a foundation of ruthless bowling and capped off by an innings of pure intent from one of the most destructive batters in women's cricket. The team will now look to extend their lead in the remaining matches of the series.
