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Match preview: Vishakapatnam: Having won their last game, hosts India would look to seal their second T20 series on the trot as they take on Sri Lanka in the final game here on Sunday. India came back from an embarrassing defeat in Pune to convincingly beat the visitors by 69 runs in Ranchi to level the series. In the first T20 after the 3-0 win in Australia, India went in as the favourites, but they struggled to cope with the pace and bounce of the strip, which Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni referred to as an “English wicket”. [caption id=“attachment_2625758” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Can India carry on their momentum from Ranchi? AFP[/caption] Pacers Kasun Rajitha and Dasun Shanaka tore through the Indian batting line up and bowled them out for a paltry total of 101 runs. Sri Lanka had little hiccups in their chase too, as veteran fast bowler Ashish Nehra and Ravichandran Ashwin kept chipping at the wickets but the islanders managed to get over the line with five wickets and two overs to spare. Two days later, the battle ground shifted to Ranchi and this time and Indian batters, who had failed miserably in the first game, ensured they give it back to the Sri Lankan bowlers. And tonk they did, as the openers Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma put on a partnership of 75 runs in seven overs. Dhawan was the aggressor as he blasted his way to a 25-ball 51. The likes of Ajinkya Rahane, who is getting to bat at no.3 in the absence of Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina all contributed with the bat and then Dhoni played his card right by sending newcomer Hardik Pandya to come ahead of Yuvraj Singh and himself. Pandya helped India get closer to the total of 196/6 hitting 27runs of just 12 balls. In the field too, Dhoni’s tricks did not backfire. He opened the bowling with tweaker Ravichandran Ashwin and held back Jasprit Bumrah till the 16th over. The plans worked and Sri Lanka failed to even get closer to the target. The Indian skipper also had a good day behind the wicket effecting two crucial stumpings. Come Sunday, the only cause of concern for the hosta will be Rahane’s form. Dhoni might just think of having Manish Pandey but then again will he disturb a winning combination? The Indian bowlers have bowled well in both the outings and maybe they will stick to the ploy of opening with Ashwin. Sri Lanka would ideally want a repeat of the Pune game, but the wicket here will be anything but green, so they might have to bat out of their skins if they are going to clinch the decider. The contest promises to be an engaging one as both sides would want to end it on a winning note and then go into the Asia Cup T20 and World T20 high on confidence.
India vs Sri Lanka, 3rd T20I as it happened: India crush Sri Lanka by 9 wickets to clinch series
Follow the live blog for all the action and reactions from the third T20I between India and Sri Lanka in Visakhapatnam
 "India vs Sri Lanka, 3rd T20I as it happened: India crush Sri Lanka by 9 wickets to clinch series")
Sri Lanka have never won any bilateral series in India in ANY format! #INDvSL
— Nikhil Mane 🏏🇦🇺 (@nikhiltait) February 14, 2016
India win by 9 wickets with 37 balls remaining. This is the biggest win for India in terms of both wickets & balls remaining.#INDvSL
— Dillip Mohanty (@dkmohanty) February 14, 2016
That’s it! India win by 9 wickets. They clinch the series 2-1.
Dhawan finishes it off in style with a six and a four. He stays not out on 46.
After 13 overs, India 69/1 ( Dhawan 34, Rahane 19)
Dilshan was too short in that over. But he got away with just four singles in the over. 14 needed off 42.
After 12 overs, India 65/1 ( Dhawan 32, Rahane 17)
Rahane got a bit impatient in that over. Got an inside edge onto his pads off a slog sweep and then looked to go inside out but ended up mistiming it to long off for a single. Gunaratne then beat Dhawan’s outside edge with a ripping off spinner. A good overs, 3 runs off it. 18 needed off 48 now.
After 11 overs, India 62/1 ( Dhawan 30, Rahane 16)
Senanayake has bowled out. He didn’t purchase as much turn as the India spinners did. 4 runs off the over. 21 needed off 54 balls.
After 10 overs, India 58/1 ( Dhawan 28, Rahane 14)
The ball is holding onto the surface a bit. But it’s still easy for Dhawan and Rahane as they take four singles in the over of Gunaratne who has a Ajantha Mendis like action. 25 needed now.
After 9 overs, India 54/1 ( Dhawan 26, Rahane 12)
India in cruise control at the moment. Dhawan brings up the 50 as he reverse sweeps one wide of short third man for a boundary. Five singles more make it 9 runs off the over. Just 29 needed now.
After 8 overs, India 45/1 ( Dhawan 19, Rahane 10)
Chameera is ramping up good pace but Rahane and Dhawan played him well in that over. Four singles and a couple off that over.6 runs off the over.
After 7 overs, India 39/1 ( Dhawan 17, Rahane 6)
A decent first over from Prasanna. There was a huge appeal for an LBW as Dhawan missed his swipe but it looked like drifting down leg. 4 runs off the over. 44 needed off 13 overs.
After 6 overs, India 35/1 ( Dhawan 16, Rahane 4)
A mixed over from Chameera. He dropped first one short and Rohit swiped it away wide of short fine leg for a boundary. Chameera hit back to remove Rohit. But then bowled one wide to Rahane who slashed it over point for a boundary. 10 runs and a wicket off the over.
OUT! Chameera strikes! RG Sharma lbw b Chameera 13 (13b 1×4 1×6)
Good length delivery outside off, nips back in sharply after landing. Rohit stays in his crease and looks to flick but misses and gets hit in front. The umpire has no doubts.
Ajinkya Rahane is the new batsman.
After 5 overs, India 25/0 (Rohit 9, Dhawan 16)
Rohit gets into the act now. This is clever cricket from India. Getting at least one boundary per over. Rohit charges and hammers it over deep mid-wicket off Senanayake. Senanayake bounces back to concede just one un off the next four balls. 8 runs off the over.
After 4 overs, India 17/0 (Rohit 2, Dhawan 15)
Sri Lankan bowlers not really troubling the batsmen. Dhawan has improved his leg side play and here he steps down the track and pulls one behind square leg for a boundary. 5 runs off the over.
After 3 overs, India 12/0 (Rohit 2, Dhawan 10)
One bad ball in the over and Dhawan makes sure he punishes it. Senanayake drops it short and Dhawan spanks it over mid-wicket for a boundary. 5 runs off the over.
After 2 overs, India 7/0 (Rohit 2, Dhawan 5)
Fernando starts off well. He got a hint of movement. 2 runs off it. Sri Lanka might be well off bowling spinners in tandem though. The pitch is assisting good turn.
After 1 over, India 5/0 (Rohit 1, Dhawan 4)
An eventful first over. There is a huge LBW shout as Dhawan pads away a straighter one from Senanayake but the umpire says no. Dhawan then gets down and sweeps it behind square leg for a boundary to get off the mark. Senanayake hits back to beat his inside edge with another straighter one off the next ball. 5 runs off the over.
Yes, couple of tough calls on Sri Lankan batsmen, but that cannot take the attention away from poor batting.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) February 14, 2016
That’s it! Sri Lanka all out for 82!
Bumrah bowls a very full delivery on middle and off, Fernando gives himself room and looks to drive but misses and finds his stumps shattered.
OUT! Perera is gone too. It’s all gone badly wrong for Sri Lanka. Raina gets his 2nd, excellent catch Jadeja as he covers good ground at deep point and slides to complete a great effort.
After 17 overs Sri Lanka 79/9
After 15 overs, Sri Lanka 71/7 (Perera 11, Senanayake 8)
A tight over from Bumrah. Just 2 runs off it.
R Ashwin's figures of 4-1-8-4 are the best for an Indian in T20Is#INDvSL
— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang) February 14, 2016
After 14 overs, Sri Lanka 69/7 (Perera 10, Senanayake 7)
No five-for for Ashwin but he finishes off with brilliant figures of 4-1-8-4. What a suberb spell. Three runs off that over.
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