India vs Sri Lanka 3rd T20I: Sri Lanka's Wanidu Hasaranga was the man of the match. (AP Photo)India vs Sri Lanka 3rd T20I Highlights: Sri Lanka beat India by 7 wickets on Thursday to take the series 2-1. In what was complete domination by the hosts, the bowlers did the job for the Lankans as they restricted India to a paltry total. On his birthday, Wanindu Hasaranga helped Sri Lanka restrict India to 81/8 – India’s third-lowest total in T20Is. Hasaranga’s figures of 4/9 were the second-best bowling figures in T20Is between Sri Lanka and India. It is Sri Lanka’s first series win in T20Is since October 2019.
Earlier, India skipper Shikhar Dhawan won the toss and elected to bat against Sri Lanka in the series-deciding third twenty20 International on Thursday. India replaced injured Navdeep Saini, who hurt his shoulder while fielding on Wednesday, with debutant Kerala pacer Sandeep Warrier. Sri Lanka also have replaced injured Isuru Udana with Pathum Nissanka. India won the first match while Sri Lanka equalled the series by winning the second T20 on Wednesday.
India Playing XI: Shikhar Dhawan (C), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devdutt Padikkal, Sanju Samson (wk), Nitish Rana, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Rahul Chahar, Sandeep Warrier, Chetan Sakariya and Varun Chakravarthy.
Sri Lanka Playing XI: Dasun Shanaka (C), Avishka Fernando, Minod Bhanuka (wk), Dhananjaya de Silva, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Ramesh Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Pathum Nissanka, Akila Dananjaya and Dushmantha Chameera.
Sri Lanka
82/3 (14.3)India
81/8 (20.0)Sri Lanka beat India by 7 wickets
India's Shikhar Dhawan is bowled out as Sri Lankan wicketkeeper Minod Bhanuka celebrates. (AP Photo)
Wanindu Hasaranga is the Player of the Match and the Player of the Series. What a birthday for the allrounder
SL 82/3 (14.3) | Sri Lanka wins by 7 wickets. They take the series 2-1. Complete domination by the hosts. It is their first series win in T20Is since October 2019. A tough couple of days for the Men In Blue, but this tour would be remembered for the opportunities some talented youngsters got to represent
Good length delivery in the line of the stumps, Hasaranga taps it down to point and crosses for a run. SL- 76/3 (13.3).
This is the last T20I series before the #T20WorldCup but has India discovered any new candidates for the WC squad.
FOUR! Dhananjaya pulls a short ball from Warrier through mid-wicket for four as Sri Lanka continue to cruise towards their target of 82 runs Then OVERTHROWS! SL pick up a single and four overthrows. They inch closer with just 6 needed.
Third wicket for Rahul Chahar. Samarawickrama goes for 6(13). SL- 56/3 after 12. Is it too little too late? Sri Lanka need 26 runs in 48 balls.
Short and room on offer from Rahul Chahar and Dhananjaya de Silva whacks it towards the backward point area for a much-needed boundary. This will ease the pressure. 7 already from the over and SL- 55/2
Samarawickrama survives! SL- 42/2 after 10 ovs
Rahul Chahar picks his second as Bhanuka departs. After a few scrambled seam deliveries, this one comes in sharply and is caught in front. India need a few more and they are in it. Sri Lanka have a very inexperienced middle order but remember, there is no scoreboard pressure. SL - 35/2 after 8 overs
"Wondering if Chahars outburst against Hasaranga yesterday after getting the latter out was the turning point of the series. Looked like the SL team regrouped with a renewed determination after the incident!," says Prashant, an avid cricket fan on Facebook. 8741 days since Sri Lanka last beat India in a bilateral limited-overs series.
WICKET! Rahul Chahar strikes in his first over and takes a neat return catch. Avishka Fernando departs for 12. SL- 23/1 after 6 ovs and the PowerPlay ends.
Short from Chakravarthy, Fernando pulls it over mid-wicket. India need wickets upfront or this one won't last long. SL - 20/0 after 4 ovs. "22 of our players are in England. 9 are in quarantine and 4 are injured and this team has only 5 batsmen. Think before you criticise," writes Ravi on social media. Is it harsh to criticize this team?
A little bit of humour never did any harm...
Avishka Fernando and M Bhanuka are at the crease. Avishka Fernando is on strike. Bhuvneshwar will open the attack
Lowest T20I totals for India:
74 vs Aus Melbourne 2008
79 vs NZ Nagpur 2016
81/8 v SL Colombo RPS 2021 *
92 vs SA Cuttack 2015
India have made just 81/8 off their 20 overs with only 4 boundaries in 20 overs! This is now the first time ever India men batted all 20 overs of a T20I innings without any player hitting a six.
At least India won't record their lowest-ever T20I total tonight. They go past 74 | Kuldeep Yadav is the highest scorer of the team. He is unbeaten on 21 off 27. IND- 75/8 after 19 overs.
Hasaranga picks up his fourth one as Chakravarthy is caught at mid-wicket fielder. He picked up the googly but also the fielder. Birthday party for Karunaratne as he celebrates. IND- 63/8 after 17 ovs
Best T20I figures on birthday:
4/9 Wanindu Hasaranga v Ind Colombo RPS (29 Jul 2021) *
4/21 Imran Tahir v Net Chittagong (27 Mar 2014)
3/23 Yuvraj Singh vs SL Mohali (12 Dec 2009)
WICKET! Rahul Chahar is gone for 5 (5). The slower short ball from Shanaka deceives the batsman, who is too early in his pull shot and top-edges the ball to the wicketkeeper. IND- 62/7 (16 overs) | Horrible situation to be in!
WICKET! Hasaranga strikes again and bags his third (3/8) as Shanaka takes another good catch at extra cover. Bhuvi departs for 16. IND- 55/6 after 14.5 ovs. How bad is it going for India right now?
Shocking numbers for India- Lowest score at the fall of 5th wkt for India in T20Is
32/5 v Aus Melbourne 2008
36/5 v SL Colombo RPS 2021 *
37/5 v Aus Bridgetown 2010
39/5 v NZ Nagpur 2016