India vs Sri Lanka Highlights, 3rd T20I Match, Full Cricket Score: Hosts win by six wickets, complete 3-0 sweep

Rohit Sharma, India captain: It’s a factor of everything that comes together. As a team, we play together, and we played very well. Lot of positives came out of this series. We do understand at times we’ve held ourselves back, but it’s important to tell guys not to worry about their positions, tell them they’re here to do their jobs. You come out, bowl two overs, and bowl those overs well and that’s a job done for the team. We want to fill whatever gaps we have. Keeping that in mind, we want to move forward. It’s going to be a big challenge, but it’s always nice to have guys in form rather than not have them in form. Always nice to see that. The way some of these guys have taken their opportunities, they move from strength to strength. Once we reach Mohali, we’re going to start thinking about it.

Shreyas Iyer is the Player of the Match for his unbeaten 73, as well as the Player of the Series for scoring 204 runs in three games!

Shreyas Iyer: All three were special for me, but yesterday’s knock, coming in at a crucial moment and winning the series for the team, that was quite special. You need just one ball to get back in form. I’m really happy with whatever opportunity I’ve got in this series. The wicket was a little two-paced today, compared to yesterday. I also wanted to dominate right from the start. You just have to back your instincts and stay positive. It’s been a rollercoaster journey after my injury. I’m really glad I went through that phase and come out of it and perform at this level.

Dasun Shanaka, Sri Lanka captain: I would like to congratulate Indian team for their wonderful performance throughout this series. Coming to the hand, it is a bit open in the finger. Our batsmen didn’t capitalise in the first six overs so that’s a concern. The pace attack was outstanding throughout. It’s not about the pace, it’s about the control. This is international cricket, we have to adapt, cannot complain about conditions.

Some impressive numbers for Rohit Sharma the captain

India in T20Is with today’s win

- Joint most consecutive wins (12)
- Most wins at home (40)
- Most wins against an opponent (17 v Sri Lanka)

Rohit Sharma’s win% in T20Is is now 85.71%.#INDvSL

— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) February 27, 2022

After 16.5 overs,India 148/4 ( Shreyas Iyer 73 , Ravindra Jadeja 22)

Kumara starts off with a wide down leg, and follows it up with a similar delivery — this time Jadeja pulling it behind square to collect a boundary and bring the equation down to a single digit. Single off each of the next three deliveries before Shreyas finishes things off with a boundary off the penultimate delivery, remaining not out on 73 to finish unbeaten in this series as India win by six wickets with 19 deliveries to spare. Once again it’s Iyer’s partnership with Jadeja, worth 45 today, that guides India home with ease.

FOUR! Shreyas Iyer finishes off in style with a boundary as India cruise to a six-wicket win with 19 balls to spare to register their 12th win on the trot, as well as their third consecutive T20I series whitewash. IND 148/4

After 16 overs,India 136/4 ( Shreyas Iyer 68 , Ravindra Jadeja 16)

Fernando starts off with a short-of-length ball to Jadeja going down leg, and the all-rounder has no problem dispatching it to the backward square leg boundary. Jaddu follows it up with a pull in front of square, this time collecting a single. Brace to Iyer in the third delivery before he steers a wide yorker towards the wide third man fence, where the fielder running to his left puts in a dive in vain. Single off each of the last two deliveries, leaving India needing just 11 more to win from 24 balls.

After 15 overs,India 123/4 ( Shreyas Iyer 61 , Ravindra Jadeja 10)

Karunaratne returns. Single off each of the first five deliveries before Iyer comes back for a second after flicking towards deep square leg in the final delivery. Seven from the over. India need another 24 to win from 30.

After 14 overs,India 116/4 ( Shreyas Iyer 57 , Ravindra Jadeja 7)

Chameera returns. Jadeja meanwhile, steers a short, wide delivery behind square in the second delivery to collect his first boundary. Nine from the over. India need another 31 to win from the last six overs.

After 13 overs,India 107/4 ( Shreyas Iyer 55 , Ravindra Jadeja 1)

Excellent over from Kumara as he gets rid of Venkatesh Iyer in the second delivery while restricting Shreyas Iyer and new batter Ravindra Jadeja from scoring any boundaries. Five runs and a wicket from the over. India need 40 off 42. Though the required rate is below six, a wicket or two — especially that of Shreyas — could put Sri Lanka in the driver’s seat.

OUT! Venkatesh Iyer doesn’t quite make optimal use of the opportunity handed to him today, miscuing a pull to get caught by the substitute fielder Jayawickrama at deep square leg. Kumara strikes again, collecting his second wicket of the innings. IND 103/4

V Iyer c sub (Jayawickrama) b Kumara 5(4)

After 12 overs,India 102/3 ( Shreyas Iyer 52 , Venkatesh Iyer 5)

Shreyas Iyer brings up his third consecutive half-century with a flourish, smashing the ball over long on in the first delivery. Vandersay, meanwhile, isn’t able to bowl more than two deliveries in this over, and Chamika Karunaratne is called on to bowl the remaining deliveries.

SIX! Shreyas Iyer dances down the track and smashes the ball over the wide long on fence to bring up a third consecutive half-century in style! Takes just 29 deliveries to bring up the fifty today, collecting seven fours and a six along the way. IND 99/3

After 11 overs,India 93/3 ( Shreyas Iyer 44 , Venkatesh Iyer 4)

Kumara returns after the drinks interval, and this time uproots the leg stump with a searing yorker to send Hooda back to the dugout. Venkatesh Iyer is the new man in, and he gets off the mark with a pull in front of square off a short delivery. Seven runs and a wicket from Kumara’s second. India need another 54 to win at run-a-ball.

BOWLED! What a delivery from Lahiru Kumara! A yorker aimed at Deepak Hooda’s feet that ends up uprooting the leg stump, a dismissal that will no doubt make a certain Lasith Malinga proud. Another threatening partnership has been broken. IND 89/3

Hooda b Kumara 21(16

After 10 overs,India 86/2 ( Shreyas Iyer 42 , Deepak Hooda 20)

SIX! Hooda collects the first maximum of the innings after deciding to go aerial down the ground, clearing the wide long off fence off Vandersay’s bowling. 10 from the over, with India needing another 61 to win at nearly run-a-ball with eight wickets in hand. Time for the players to have a drink. Current partnership’s worth 35, one that has brought the Indians back in the driver’s seat.

After 9 overs,India 76/2 ( Shreyas Iyer 41 , Deepak Hooda 11)

Expensive over from Karunaratne with 13 coming off it, including a boundary each to Iyer and Hooda, the former moving into the 40s in this over. India need 71 more to win from 66 balls.

After 8 overs,India 63/2 ( Shreyas Iyer 34 , Deepak Hooda 5)

Spin introduced as Jeffrey Vandersay replaces Fernando. Iyer and Hooda rotate the strike between themselves through singles before Iyer drills an overpitched ball down the ground in the sixth delivery to collect his sixth boundary.

After 7 overs,India 55/2 ( Shreyas Iyer 28 , Deepak Hooda 3)

Karunaratne introduced after the powerplay. Samson brings up the fifty for India with a boundary at the start of this over, before nicking the ball to the keeper next ball to depart for 18, bringing Deepak Hooda at the crease. Eight runs and a wicket from the over. India need 92 to win off 78.

Edged… and taken! Samson decides to poke at the ball that’s nipping away from him, and ends up getting a thick edge. The ball carries all the way to the keeper at a comfortable height as Karunaratne breaks what was starting to look a dangerous partnership from the visitors’ perspective. IND 51/2

Samson c Chandimal b Karunaratne 18(12)

After 6 overs,India 47/1 ( Sanju Samson (W) 14 , Shreyas Iyer 27)

Another boundary for Samson as he steers a wide full toss, poor stuff from the left-arm seamer, past the man at short third man to collect his second boundary of the innings. Iyer tucks a short-of-length ball behind square, placing the ball out of short fine’s reach to make it two boundaries in three balls in this over. 10 from this over. Nice little recovery from the Indians as they reach 47/1 at the end of the powerplay. India need another 100 to win from 84 balls with nine wickets in hand.

After 5 overs,India 37/1 ( Sanju Samson (W) 9 , Shreyas Iyer 22)

Change of ends for Chameera. The seamer restricts the second-wicket pair to singles in the first five deliveries, before Samson decides to break the shackles with a well-timed aerial drive over mid on that fetches him his first boundary of the evening. Nine from the over. Partnership currently worth 31.

After 4 overs,India 28/1 ( Sanju Samson (W) 3 , Shreyas Iyer 20)

Lahiru Kumara replaces Dushmantha Chameera. Iyer, meanwhile, decides to use Kumara’s extra pace to send the ball racing away to the fence, collecting three boundaries in this over along with a brace. 15 from this over, and the Indians are back on their feet in the chase.

After 3 overs,India 13/1 ( Sanju Samson (W) 2 , Shreyas Iyer 6)

Fernando, who had hurt his thumb in his non-bowling hand in the previous over, continues. Iyer and Samson collect a single each before the former collects his first boundary with a lovely cover drive in the penultimate delivery. Six from the over.

After 2 overs,India 7/1 ( Sanju Samson (W) 1 , Shreyas Iyer 1)

Outstanding start from Dushmantha Chameera as he gives away just one from his first over while accounting for Rohit’s wicket. Shreyas Iyer is the new man in at three, and he gets off the mark with a single in the penultimate delivery.

OUT! Dushmantha Chameera dismisses Rohit Sharma yet again! Went for a wild heave down the ground and got no timing, skieing the ball towards mid off with Karunaratne pouching this comfortably. The sixth time Chameera’s got rid of Rohit in T20Is. IND 6/1

Rohit c Karunaratne b Chameera 5(9)

After 1 over,India 6/0 ( Sanju Samson (W) 1 , Rohit Sharma (C) 5)

Sanju Samson’s off the mark right away with a single off the first delivery. Rohit then opens his account with a boundary two balls later, steering a yorker through backward square leg. Dropped! Rohit steers the ball towards Shanaka at mid off, his Sri Lankan counterpart making a mess of a low chance that came his way. Six from the first over.

Right then, we’re back with the chase with Sanju Samson opening alongside Rohit Sharma in Ishan Kishan’s absence. Samson looked impressive in his partnership with Iyer yesterday, and will hope to produce a similar knock today. Binura Fernando to bowl the first over.

After 20 overs,Sri Lanka 146/5 ( Dasun Shanaka (C) 74 , Chamika Karunaratne 12)

Harshal Patel bowls the final over. Shanaka produces a one-handed slog sweep in the second delivery, clearing to square leg fence comfortably to collect his second six of the innings. Collects a quick double in the next delivery, before gloving a short ball over the keeper’s head and away to the fine leg fence for his ninth boundary. Dot to end the innings, as Sri Lanka finish on 146/5, the unbroken sixth-wicket stand worth 86 off just 47 deliveries, with Shanaka remaining unbeaten on 74 off just 37.

After 19 overs,Sri Lanka 134/5 ( Dasun Shanaka (C) 62 , Chamika Karunaratne 12)

4, 4, Wide, 6. Shanaka, clearly on a roll at the moment and middling just about everything, tears Khan apart in this over as he brings up his third T20I half-century, taking just 29 deliveries to get to the milestone. 19 from the over. Sri Lanka will hope to cross 150 in the final over.

After 18 overs,Sri Lanka 115/5 ( Dasun Shanaka (C) 47 , Chamika Karunaratne 10)

Bishnoi is bowling the 18th over, with Jadeja, Venkatesh Iyer and Deepak Hooda’s bowling skills not being utilised at all today. Single off each of the first three deliveries, before Shanaka collects back-to-back fours to bring up the fifty stand with Karunaratne for the sixth wicket. 12 from the over. Another two to go in the innings.

FOUR! Hammered down the ground by Shanaka off Bishnoi, bringing up the fifty partnership with Karunaratne with a boundary. The pair have consumed just 33 balls in the partnership so far with the captain scoring the lion’s share of runs. SL 111/5

After 17 overs,Sri Lanka 103/5 ( Dasun Shanaka (C) 37 , Chamika Karunaratne 8)

Siraj returns. Shanaka, meanwhile, tees off in this over and appears to have picked up from where he left off yesterday, smashing two boundaries in three balls — through the point and cover regions respectively. And he’s racing between the wickets when not scoring boundaries, collecting back-to-back doubles in the last two balls. 13 from the over. Sri Lanka are past the 100-mark in this over.

After 16 overs,Sri Lanka 90/5 ( Dasun Shanaka (C) 25 , Chamika Karunaratne 7)

Shanaka gets a thick top edge while looking to pull a short ball from Patel, and gets a lucky escape in the end as the ball lands between three fielders at mid on. He follows it up with a lovely flick behind square off a yorker-length ball from Patel. Four byes added two balls later after Samson fails to get his gloves to a steep bouncer from Patel. 12 from the over. Another four to go in the Sri Lankan innings.

After 15 overs,Sri Lanka 78/5 ( Dasun Shanaka (C) 19 , Chamika Karunaratne 5)

Bishnoi returns and keeps it tidy, with just four coming off his third as Shanaka and Karunaratne having to content themselves with singles for now. The Lankans will hope for a late assault from the captain’s bat, not too different from the one witnessed in yesterday’s game as they added 80 in the last five.

After 14 overs,Sri Lanka 74/5 ( Dasun Shanaka (C) 17 , Chamika Karunaratne 4)

Kuldeep continues from the other end. 10 from the over, including four leg byes in the third delivery and a couple of doubles to Shanaka, who’s batting on 17 at the end of this over.

After 13 overs,Sri Lanka 64/5 ( Dasun Shanaka (C) 12 , Chamika Karunaratne 3)

Harshal Patel returns to the attack, and he gets the breakthrough right away as Chandimal departs for 25, holing out to Venkatesh at backward point. Chamika Karunaratne is the new man in, and he gets off the mark right away with a brace. Four runs and a wicket from the over.

OUT! Patel strikes after being brought back as he removes Chandimal for 25. The Sri Lankan No 4 cuts the ball towards backward point, where Venkatesh Iyer crouches low and collects the catch safely in the end, though he also ends up copping a painful blow on the unmentionables after the ball had deflected off his arm and hit him below the abdomen. Patel breaks the stand that was starting to look dangerous from the Indian perspective. SL 60/5

Chandimal c V Iyer b Patel 25(27)

After 12 overs,Sri Lanka 60/4 ( Dinesh Chandimal (W) 25 , Dasun Shanaka (C) 11)

Single off each of the first two deliveries before Chandimal collects his second boundary with a solid punch through the cover region in the fourth ball. Shreyas Iyer puts in a dive in front of the boundary, but his foot ends up touching the advertising cushion just when he puts in a slide. Kuldeep though, beats him with drift in the next delivery. Chandimal keeps the strike with a single off the last delivery.

After 11 overs,Sri Lanka 52/4 ( Dinesh Chandimal (W) 19 , Dasun Shanaka (C) 9)

FOUR! Chandimal collects his first boundary of the innings with a lovely cover drive in the first delivery. Four singles and a wide added to the total in the remaining deliveries, with nine coming off Bishnoi’s second over. Sri Lanka are past the 50-mark in the meantime, with the current stand between the two senior players looking promising so far.

After 10 overs,Sri Lanka 43/4 ( Dinesh Chandimal (W) 13 , Dasun Shanaka (C) 7)

Kuldeep continues. Excellent effort by Rohit to give the ball a chase all the way to fine leg after a sweep by Chandimal at the start of the over. Single off the fourth and fifth deliveries before a misfield by Siraj at deep backward square leg results in the Sri Lankans collecting only their second boundary of the day so far, the boundary going into skipper Shanaka’s account. Nine from the over. Time for there players to have a drink now.

After 9 overs,Sri Lanka 34/4 ( Dinesh Chandimal (W) 9 , Dasun Shanaka (C) 2)

Spin from both ends now as Ravi Bishnoi replaces Harshal Patel. And the wrist spinner makes good use of the googly to get rid of Liyanage as Sri Lanka lose their fourth wicket. Skipper Dasun Shanaka joins Chandimal at the crease, and it’s up to the two senior players to guide the team to safety from here.

BOWLED! Bishnoi uses the googly to good effect once again, breaching Liyanage’s defence and leaving the stumps in a disarray to break the budding fourth-wicket stand. SL 29/4

Liyanage b Bishnoi 9(19)

After 8 overs,Sri Lanka 26/3 ( Janith Liyanage 7 , Dinesh Chandimal (W) 7)

Spin finally introduced as Kuldeep Yadav replaces Avesh Khan. He’s off to a tidy start, with just two coming from his first over. With the run rate still hovering marginally above the three-run mark, the Lankans will need a big over if they are to revive their innings.

After 7 overs,Sri Lanka 24/3 ( Janith Liyanage 6 , Dinesh Chandimal (W) 6)

First bowling change, with Harshal Patel replacing Siraj in the attack. Six from the over, including a wide in the fourth delivery. Chandimal and Liyanage are focused on keeping the scoreboard ticking through singles at the moment.

After 6 overs,Sri Lanka 18/3 ( Janith Liyanage 4 , Dinesh Chandimal (W) 4)

Three singles and a leg bye added in this over as Sri Lanka crawl to 18/3 at the end of the powerplay, going at just three-an-over. Has been a horror start so far for Dasun Shanaka’s side in their quest to collect a consolation win today.

After 5 overs,Sri Lanka 14/3 ( Janith Liyanage 3 , Dinesh Chandimal (W) 2)

Senior batter and former captain Dinesh Chandimal arrives at the crease, hoping to mount a rescue for his team in Liyanage’s company. Three singles collected in this over with Chandimal opening his account in the process.

After 4 overs,Sri Lanka 11/3 ( Janith Liyanage 2 , )

Another top over from Avesh as he gives away just one from it while getting rid of Asalanka in the final delivery, the left-hander skieing the ball and getting caught by Samson behind the stumps. One run and a wicket from the over.

OUT! Another one bites the dust, and Sri Lanka have lost a third wicket in the powerplay. Fine catch by Sanju Samson wearing the keeper’s gloves today after Asalanka got a thick top edge that sent the ball high up in the night sky. SL 11/3

Asalanka c Samson b Khan 4(6)

After 3 overs,Sri Lanka 10/2 ( Charith Asalanka 4 , Janith Liyanage 1)

India lose a review in the powerplay after an unsuccessful LBW appeal against Liyanage in the first delivery of this over, with the ball found to be going over the leg stump. He gets off the mark with a single off the second ball, while Charith Asalanka collects the first boundary of the innings with a slap over backward point two balls later. Five from the over.

After 2 overs,Sri Lanka 5/2 ( Charith Asalanka 0 , Janith Liyanage 0)

Avesh Khan steams in from the other end. Four leg byes added in the third delivery after the ball deflects off Nissanka’s thigh pad after angling in sharply and taking the batter by surprise. Nissanka looks to break the shackles two balls later, and ends up getting caught near extra cover to depart for a 10-ball 1. It’s a wicket maiden for Avesh, and a superb start for Team India in their quest for a third consecutive 3-0 T20I sweep.

OUT! Sri Lanka lose both openers inside the first two overs! It’s Nissanka who follows Gunathilaka to the dugout after slicing the ball up in the air towards extra cover. Venkatesh Iyer settles under the ball and completes the catch near the circle. SL 5/2

Nissanka c V Iyer b Khan 1(10)

After 1 over,Sri Lanka 1/1 ( Pathum Nissanka 1 , Charith Asalanka 0)

Top start for Mohammed Siraj and for the Indians as the Hyderabadi seamer removes Gunathilaka in the final delivery over the over, the southpaw chopping the ball onto the off stump while attempting to pull a short delivery to depart for a golden duck.

BOWLED! Mohammed Siraj with the early breakthrough, as Danushka Gunathilaka ends up getting a thick inside edge onto his off stump to depart for a golden duck! SL 1/1

Gunathilaka b Siraj 0(1)

Pathum Nissanka and Dasun Gunathilaka walk out to open the innings, hoping to guide their side to another solid start like they did yesterday. Mohammed Siraj will begin the proceedings with the ball in hand.

Teams:

India XI:  Rohit Sharma (c), Sanju Samson (wk), Shreyas Iyer, Ravindra Jadeja, Venkatesh Iyer, Deepak Hooda, Harshal Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Avesh Khan

Sri Lanka XI:  Pathum Nissanka, Danushka Gunathilaka, Charith Asalanka, Dinesh Chandimal (wk), Janith Liyanage, Dasun Shanaka (c), Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Jeffrey Vandersay, Binura Fernando, Lahiru Kumara

Rohit Sharma: (On Ishan Kishan) He’s ruled out, he wasn’t feeling too well last night. Bumrah, Bhuvi and Chahal all miss out, they’re resting… I’ve got to be careful what I say (laughs). Bishnoi, Kuldeep, Avesh and Siraj replace them.

Dasun Shanaka: It seems a very good wicket. We have two changes. Jeffrey Vandersay replaces Praveen Jayawickrama replaces. Kamil Mishara also misses out and Janith Liyanage replaces him. We want to win this one for pride and make it 2-1, so good opportunity for the boys.

TOSS: Sri Lanka win the toss, and captain Dasun Shanaka opts to bat.

Sunil Gavaskar and Deep Dasgupta analyse the HPCA wicket ahead of the third T20I:

DD: More pace on this wicket compared to Lucknow, as well as bounce, which has been helpful for the bowlers.

SG: It’s sunny out here today. The dampness that we noticed yesterday is gone. Plenty of grass around short of good length, middle of the pitch, and that’s where the bowlers can target for getting the extra bounce. Should be another high-scoring affair.

Conditions much clearer at the picturesque HPCA today

The stage is set for the third and final T20I.@Paytm #INDvSL pic.twitter.com/IYTYnhGBAc

— BCCI (@BCCI) February 27, 2022

Ishan Kishan ruled out

Kishan had been struck on his helmet by a searing 146 kmph bouncer from Lahiru Kumar during the powerplay in the second T20I, and had to be admitted into the ICU after the match as a precautionary measure. Earlier today, it was further confirmed that the young wicketkeeper-batter had been ruled out of the third and final T20I, meaning either Mayank Agarwal or Venkatesh Iyer could open alongside skipper Rohit Sharma today.

“I would like to thank Rohit because he trusts me and he believes in me that I can go out there and score runs for my team,” said all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, who has dazzled with the bat in this series after being promoted up the order and being utilised as a proper batter for a change.

As far as batting is concerned, India’s first-choice line-up is more or less ready. But when you are facing a tournament like the T20 World Cup, that too in Australian conditions, you need a secondary approach as well. This is where experimentation becomes the watchword. And this is precisely where India is at the moment, with the likes of Shreyas Iyer and Sanju Samson enjoying opportunities while Pant and Virat Kohli are off resting.

Chetan Narula writes on the likes of Shreyas and Sanju making the most of the opportunities provided to them in the ongoing series in the absence of some of the more established players.

Read: Shreyas Iyer and Sanju Samson are charting different paths to the T20 World Cup

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the third and final Twenty20 International between India and Sri Lanka at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh, the venue where the Men in Blue had clinched the series with a comfortable seven-wicket win on Saturday and will hope for a similar result today to complete yet another 3-0 sweep.