India's Ravindra Jadeja, right, hugs batting partner Shreyas Iyer to celebrate after their win in the third Twenty20 international cricket match against Sri Lanka in Dharmsala, India, Sunday, Feb. 27, 2022. (AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia)IND vs SL Highlights: Shreyas Iyer hit an unbeaten half-century as India defeated Sri Lanka by six wickets in the third T20 International to make a 3-0 clean sweep in the three-match series here on Saturday.
Chasing 147, India were reeling at 89/3 inside 11 overs when Shreyas came up with an unbeaten 73 from 45 balls to chase down the target with 19 balls to spare.
Ravindra Jadeja once again played a perfect support with 22 not out from 15 balls as the duo stitched together an unbroken stand of 45 runs to give India a 3-0 sweep, chasing down the target in 16.5 overs.
Brief Scores: Sri Lanka: 146/5 in 20 overs (Dasun Shanaka 74 not out from 38 balls; Avesh Khan 2/23). India: 148/4 in 16.5 overs (Shreyas Iyer 73 not out, Ravindra Jadeja 22 not out).
India
148/4 (16.5)Sri Lanka
146/5 (20.0)India beat Sri Lanka by 6 wickets
Indian players celebrate the dismissal of Sri Lanka's Kamil Mishara during the second Twenty20 international cricket match between India and Sri Lanka, in Dharmsala, India, Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia)
It's a pattern of everything that comes together. We played very well. Lot of positives came out from the series. Want to understand what kind of bench strength we have. Good to give opportunities to those guys. Important to tell guys not to worry about your positions in the team. Want to fill whatever gaps we have. Keeping that in mind we want to move forward. Going to be a big challenge but always nice to have guys in form (whom to pick). Once we reach Mohali we'll start thinking about the Tests.
Want to congratulate India for a wonderful performance. Need some stitches on the hand. Been tough without our senior bowlers. Didn't capitalise on the first six overs today again with the bat. Pace attack has been outstanding throughout last year or so. Not so much about pace but control. This is international cricket, we have to adapt, can't complain about conditions.
Jadeja hits a four to bring India closer to their target. Just 3 needed now. Will this be the over to do it? That's a four for Iyer and it's all over. India gets the cleansweep. India beat Sri Lanka by 6 wickets.
Fernando brought in the attack now. And gets hit for a four straightaway. Jadeja looks to be in a mood now. And that's another 4 by Shreyas. Squeezes it wide of deep backward point. Fernando expensive again. India close. 136/4 after 16 overs.
6 overs left now. And India need 31 to win. As long as Shreyas is in the crease it's a comfortable total. As well as Jadeja if you remember his stormy knock yesterday. That's 15 overs gone. 7 off it. IND 123/4 after 15 overs.
And India lose another wicket as Venkatesh Iyer has to walk back. The Iyer and Iyer partnership did not last long. Kumara takes a big one. IND 103/4 after 12.2 overs.
SIXXXXXXXXX!!!! Iyer hits his 3rd 50 in a row. And what a way to get to it. That's over midwicket for a maximum.
After 10 overs India were 86/2 with an assist from a huge 6 by Hooda. The 11th over begins now. Kumara in to bowl. And he has been cleaned up. Hooda is gone. IND 89/3 after 10.5 overs.
Iyer is just hitting boundaries off every bowler he faces. Karunaratne gets the treatment now. What a shot by Iyer. Deepak Hooda also joins the party as he puts one over the keeper's head and the ball is off to the races. 13 off this over. IND 76/2 after 9 overs.
That's gone!!! Karunaratne takes Samson's wicket. That's a nick and the wicketkeeper makes no mistakes. He'll be disappointed with that shot. That too when he was looking good. IND 51/2 after 6.2 overs.
The last over of the powerplay in the offing now. The 5th over ended with a four by Samson. India will look to put up a good powerplay score and this over is vital. Samson hits a four as Fernando bowls a full toss. Opened the face of the bat and guides it towards the ropes. And that's four more. This time by Iyer. He is in devastating form. That's the over. IND 47/1 after 6 overs.
Kumara gets hit for a 4 by Iyer now. Walks across the stump and then back away. Wonder where the next ball will go? We don't have to wait long as that's also slapped for a 4. This time to deep extra cover. Shreyas is just cruising now. And another glorious shot to end the over with a 4. 15 off this one. IND 28/1 after 4 overs.
Beautiful shot through the covers by Shreyas Iyer. Through the gap and straight to the boundary. This man is in some form now. After 3 overs, India are 13/1.
That's gone high. Chameera scalps Rohit for the 6th time. Very uncharectistic shot and a very incharacteristic innings. That's the first wicket down for India. IND 6/1 after 1.4 overs.
Rohit off the mark with a 4. Fernando bowled a good ball. Or so he thought. Inswinging yorker which is punished. Almost a catch but no. IND 6/0 after 1 over.
So it's Sanju Samson who accompanies Rohit Sharma to the middle. A new opening partner for the skipper. Let's see what this partnership yields. Fernando will open the attack for Sri Lanka. Here we go!!
Shanaka's powerful 74 runs knock helped Sri Lanka to post 147 runs target for the Indian team. SL 146/5 after 20 overs.
He times and deposits it into the stands. Shanaka is looking at making the last over count. SL 142/5 after 19.3 overs.
Brilliant 51 runs in just 29 balls by Shanaka at such a crucial point. He is trying to curb the pressure off his team. He celebrates his fifty by another boundary and a six. SL 131/5 after 18.4 overs.
Shanaka hits it hard into the fence as he changes his gears beautifully. Back-to-back boundaries for him as he is playing the field. SL 115/5 after 18 overs.