Sri Lanka women clinches T20 series

Visakhapatnam: Yet another attacking innings from Sri Lanka skipper Shashikala Siriwardene, capping a disciplined bowling and fielding performance, led the visitors to a six-wicket victory in the decider of the three-match Twenty20 International series against hosts India at the Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium here on Tuesday.

Chasing a target of only 119, Shashikala scored an unbeaten 46 off 42  deliveries and, along Eshani Lokusuriyage, who smashed 24 off just 8 balls. led her side over the line with six wickets in hand and seven balls to spare.

After Harmanpreet Kaur — standing in for the injured Mithali Raj — won the toss and elected to bat first, bowlers Udeshika Prabodhani and Lokusuriyage wrecked the top-order to reduce India to just 12 for 4 in 3.4 overs.

Poonam Raut did her best to hold the ship steady as Vanita V.R. (4), Smriti Mandhana (1), Harmanpreet (2) and Karuna V. Jain (1) were sent back to the pavilion.

Poonam eschewed flashy strokes to score a doughty 45-ball 38, a knock that contained only three boundaries.

Jhulan Goswami, who came lower down the order, took up the responsibility after Poonam’s dismissal, and scored an attacking 37 not out off 26 deliveries, to take the hosts to 117 for 8. Her innings contained one four and three huge sixes.

Maduri Samuddika, who picked up 2 for 18, and Prabodhani, who bagged 2 for 20, were the pick of the Sri Lankan bowlers.

Chasing the modest target, the Lankans made a poor start, losing opener Yasoda Mendis for one in only the second over. Even though they lost three more wickets at regular intervals, they never looked in any danger of losing the match.

Shashikala hit four boundaries and a lone six in her innings while Lokusuriyage smashed the ball over the fence three times.