India vs Sri Lanka, 3rd T20I in Mumbai: Thisara in for the last over. Two runs and the scores are level. The next ball is turned away to square leg. The fielders have given up chase. India win by five wickets. Kudos to Sri Lanka for giving a good fight even with a lightweight total. Preview: After overpowering Sri Lanka to clinch the series 2-0, India will look to continue their winning streak and clean sweep the series in the third Twenty20 International (T20I) at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday. [caption id=“attachment_4273801” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]
Rohit Sharma and Thisara Perera. AFP[/caption] On a triumphant run, India have been flamboyant in their approach to outclass Sri Lanka by 93 and 88 runs in the first and second encounters respectively. The hosts will hope to repeat the same form and outplay the visitors in the dead rubber. Ranked fourth in the T20I rankings, India will bank on their fearless batting led by skipper Rohit Sharma and fellow opener Lokesh Rahul who have looked on top of their game. Supporting them will be batsmen Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Hardik Pandya, Manish Pandey and Dinesh Karthik who have the calibre to demolish the Sri Lanka which has failed to look up to the mark. In the bowling department, pacer Jasprit Bumrah — who currently tops the T20I bowlers’ list — will spearhead the unit alongside fellow new ball seamer Jaydev Unadkat. However, wrist-spinners Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav, who have caused plenty of trouble to Sri Lanka throughout the series, will once again remain the key to pick crucial wickets. For Sri Lanka, experienced all-rounder Angelo Mathews has added to the worries for the side after being ruled out of the final rubber following a hamstring injury in the previous match. The visitors will, however, hope top order batsmen Niroshan Dickwella, Upul Tharanga and Kusal Perera to play match-winning knocks to salvage their side some pride and consolidate a victory before returning home. The bowling, which has looked rather ineffective for Sri Lanka will need to reform strategies with the likes of skipper Thisara Perera, Nuwan Pradeep and Akila Dananjaya to try and trouble the formidable India batting line-up. With inputs from IANS
Highlights, India vs Sri Lanka, 3rd T20I at Mumbai: Dhoni, Karthik guide hosts to tense win
Thisara in for the last over. Two runs and the scores are level. The next ball is turned away to square leg. The fielders have given up chase. India win by five wickets. Kudos to Sri Lanka for giving a good fight even with a lightweight total.
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Most wins for a team in a calendar year in international cricket:
38 – Australia, 2003
37 – INDIA, 2017*
35 – Australia, 1999
34 – Pakistan, 2011
India in a bi-lateral T20I series of three matches:
v Australia, 2016 – Won
v Sri Lanka, 2016 – Won
v Zimbabwe, 2016 – Won
v England, 2017 – Won
v New Zealand, 2017 – Won
v Sri Lanka, 2017 – Won
Most wins for India against an opposition in T20Is:
10 – Australia, SRI LANKA*
6 – Pakistan, South Africa
5 – Bangladesh, England
After 19.2 overs,India 139/5 ( Dinesh Karthik 18 , MS Dhoni (W) 16)
Thisara in for the last over. Two runs and the scores are level. The next ball is turned away to square leg. The fielders have given up chase. India win by five wickets and win the T20I series 3-0. Kudos to Sri Lanka for giving a good fight even with a lightweight total.
After 19 overs,India 133/5 ( Dinesh Karthik 18 , MS Dhoni (W) 10)
Pradeep to Karthik. The second ball is hit back by Dhoni. Just out of reach of the bowler. Karthik heaves the next ball to deep mid-wicket for two. Karthik tries to get a bit cheeky. The scoop doesn’t come off. Heaves the next ball away to deep mid-wicket again. The fielder covers a lot of ground in the deep. A couple again and India get within touching distance. 9 needed off 7 balls. Some A lot of fingernails being chewed away. And Pradeep bowls a rubbish ball. Releases the pressure with a friendly full toss and Karthik sends it way into the stands at mid-wicket. 3 needed off the last over.
After 18 overs,India 121/5 ( Dinesh Karthik 7 , MS Dhoni (W) 9)
Thisara to Karthik. Five runs off the first five balls. India are doing it easily now. Not a surprise with MSD at the crease. Then cramped by one that comes in. A half-hearted appeal. No run. 15 needed off 12 balls.
After 17 overs,India 116/5 ( Dinesh Karthik 4 , MS Dhoni (W) 7)
Chameera to Pandey. And a wicket. Bowled through the gate. Big wicket for Sri Lanka, but it may be a bit too late. MS Dhoni walks down the steps of the pavilion to tumultuous applause. ‘Finisher par excellence’. There looks to a ball change meanwhile. Dhoni gets a four. Pat the ‘keeper. Looked more intentional than an edge, that shot from Dhoni. A drive for two. The batsmen scampers through. MSD is a gazelle between the wickets still. There is a big appeal for LBW against Dhoni. Not out, says the ump. The Lankans are adamant. They review. But the ball would have comfortably gone over the stumps. Dhoni survives. SL had to take that review, but have lost it now. 20 runs needed off the last 18 balls.
OUT! Pandey gone. The ball came sharply back and goes through the gate. Pandey was stuck at the crease and saw his furniture disturbed.
Manish Pandey b Chameera 32(29)
After 16 overs,India 108/4 ( Manish Pandey 32 , Dinesh Karthik 3)
Pradeep to Pandey. Dinesh Karthik has joined Pandey in the middle. A single off the first ball and that’s the 100 for India. A two and a single off the next three balls. And then a four. Pandey again and he has taken charge. This chase should now be an easy one. 28 runs needed off 24 balls.
After 15 overs,India 99/4 ( Manish Pandey 26 , )
Shanaka into the attack. Consecutive boundaries for Pandey. He has put his feet on the gas paddle now. Pandya drives handsomely and collects two at sweeper cover. And then he gives his wicket away. Attempts the fancy ramp shot and ends up guiding it to the ‘keeper’s gloves. He is livid with himself.