India completed their third successive 3-0 sweep of a T20I series as they hammered Sri Lanka by 6 wickets in the 3rd and final T20I in Dharamsala on Sunday. After gunning down 184 in just 17.1 overs in the 2nd T20I on Saturday, India made light work of a 147-run target in the series finale against the visiting islanders.
Under Rohit Sharma, India began the post-T20 World Cup journey with a 3-0 sweep of New Zealand at home last year. They then hammered West Indies 3-0 earlier this month to go to the top spot of ICC T20I Rankings. And with the sweep of Sri Lanka, India are set to retain the numero uno position.
India vs Sri Lanka, 3rd T20I: Highlights
Sunday’s win over Sri Lanka also helped India extend their winning streak in T20Is to 12 as they equalled the world record for the most successive wins in the shortest format of the game.
SHREYAS IYER: 204 runs without losing his wicket
India rode on another superlative batting performance from Shreyas Iyer, who seems to be making a strong case for more regular appearances in the XI in T20Is. Iyer ended the series against Sri Lanka with 3 successive fifties and he was not dismissed by the visiting bowlers even once in the series.
Shreyas finished with 204 runs in the series, decimating Sri Lanka single-handedly with the bat in the series.
The Mumbai batter got only one opportunity in the T20I series against the West Indies as India opted to go with Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav in the middle-order.
However, in the absence of Kohli and Suryakumar, Iyer got an extended run at No. 3 in the series against Sri Lanka. The newly-appointed Kolkata Knight Riders captain hit 73 off just 45 balls in the 3rd T20I, making sure India got past the finish line despite losing captain Rohit early for the 2nd successive time.
Iyer kept the scoreboard moving at a brisk pace from the word go. Despite losing partners frequently, Iyer never took the foot off the pedal, punishing the Sri Lanka bowlers every time they missed the mark even by a whisker.
Iyer hit 9 boundaries and a six for his match-winning show. Iyer also became the 2nd India baiter after Virat Kohli to hit 3 successive fifties in a T20I series.
India got decent contributions from Sanju Samson (18) after the Kerala wicketkeeper-batter was asked to open the batting in the absence of Ishan Kishan who took a blow to his head on Saturday.
Deepak Hooda, who was promoted to No. 4, hit 21 off 16 before getting dismissed by Lahiru Kumara.
India lose Venkatesh Iyer (5) cheaply but Ravindra Jadeja continued his rich vein of form, hitting 22 from just 15 balls.
Dasun Shaka’s lone warrior effort in vain
Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka was once again the saviour with a 74 not out off 38 balls that took his team close to 150-run mark. Shanaka hit nine fours and two sixes.
But it was Avesh (4-1-23-2) and Siraj (4-0-22-1), who just dismantled the Lankan top-order with pace and bounce, as they were reduced to 11 for 3 in the fourth over and there was no coming back from there.
Siraj started it by hurrying Danushka Gunathilaka (0) with a short ball which he tried to pull but only managed to drag back onto the stumps.