India whitewash Sri Lanka, end year with record 37 wins

MUMBAI: After crushing Sri Lanka in the first two games, India again displayed their vulnerability in conditions that aid the seamers a bit, as they huffed and puffed their way to beat the visitors by five wickets in what turned out be an exciting third and final T20 International game on Sunday night at the Wankhede Stadium. The hosts thus completed a 3-0 clean sweep of the series to wind up the year on a high before they embark on the South African safari a few days later.
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Defending a mere 136 in a low-scoring game, the visitors put in a spirited effort with the ball to take the final game of their otherwise disappointing tour down the wire. But MS Dhoni (16 not out, 10b, 2x4) and Dinesh Karthik (18 not out, 12b), who smashed a Nuwan Pradeep full toss, off the last ball of the penultimate over to swing the tight chase India's way, took the 'Men in Blue' home.

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Dushmantha Chameera and Dasun Shanaka, who had earlier chipped in with a useful 24-ball, unbeaten 29 which included two sixes, are by no means top-drawer, but both seamers must be commended for bowling their heart out to make the Indian batsmen sweat it out in the middle.

When Chameera castled Pandey in the beginning of the 17th over, India looked in deep bother but the strategy of holding back the vastly experienced Dhoni, who turned back the clock by smashing the winning boundary off Perera, paid off on the night.

Coming off a world record 35-ball hundred in the previous game in Indore only a couple of days back, skipper Rohit Sharma (27; 20b, 4x4, 1x6) threatened to explode again before he pulled one into deep square leg's hands.


After his departure, Pandey added 42 with Shreyas Iyer (30, 32b, 1x4, 1x6) in 44 balls before the latter was out unluckily as he, rather unwisely, backed up too far to a straight hit by Pandey which ricocheted off the bowler's (Akila Dannanjaya) hands.

Soon, Hardik Pandya was out to a poor stroke, trying to cut a rising Shanka delivery, leaving the Indian dugout anxious before Karthik and Dhoni settled the issue. Earlier, after choosing to bat first, the Lankans seemed to be in a hurry to catch the flight back home to Colombo as they slipped to 18 for three by the fourth over.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Niroshan Dickwella spooned Jaidev Unadkat to mid-off, Kusal Perera spooned back an easy catch to give Washington Sundar his maiden T20I wicket on his debut in this format, while Upul Tharanga lofted Unadkat straight into the waiting hands of Hardik Pandya at deep mid-wicket.

Asela Gunaratne (36; 37b, 3x4) and Sadeera Samarawickrama (21; 17b, 3x4) then added 38 in 33 balls to stage a mini recovery for the islanders, but once the latter failed to clear mid-off while trying to smash Pandya, any hopes the Lankans had of crossing 150 evaporated. Gunaratne had a lucky reprieve when he was let off by MS Dhoni while trying to cut Kuldeep Yadav when the batsman was on 11.

It took one poor over in the end from Mohammad Siraj, which was plundered for 18 runs by tail-enders Shanka and Dhananjaya for the Lankans to dash to a decent total after crawling for the entire period before that.

Thanks to Shanaka's cameo, which included two sixes-the first one over extra cover off Hardik Pandya and the second a massive strike off Siraj and Dhananjaya's good use of the long handle, 114 for off 19 overs suddenly became 135 for seven in 20 and Lanka had something to fight with.

The night's costliest over for India also ruined Siraj's comeback game (he replaced Jasprit Bumrah who was rested for the inconsequential game) as the Hyderabad pacer went for 45 off his four overs on a pitch which had something for his trade. In the absence of the by-now experienced Bumrah and leggie Yuzuvendra Chahal, India's new-look bowling attack, barring Siraj, enjoyed a good outing.

Bowling the first over of the innings and conceding just 22 off his four, Sundar, who, at 18 years and 80 days replaced Rishabh Pant as India's youngest ever T20I debutant, enjoyed a perfect night.

Making a case for himself to be played more often, especially because he's a left-arm pacer, a much-wanted variation in the Indian attack, Unadkat was the standout bowler, finishing with two for 15 off his four overs, while Pandya seemed to be enjoying the extra bounce that the Wankhede offered on Sunday night.