India vs Sri Lanka, 3rd T20I as it happened: India crush Sri Lanka by 9 wickets to clinch series

Ravichandran Ashwin is named the Man of the Match and Man of the Series.

It was a brilliant bowling display from India. Ashwin started it off with four wickets from first five overs. It was good bowling but Sri Lanka were guilty of playing rash shots. Raina then chipped in with a couple of wickets and Jadeja shone with his bowling and fielding as well. Sri Lanka never got the momentum going and succumbed to their lowest T20I total. Indian openers provided a brisk start and then after Rohit’s departure, Dhawan carried on and played a very good innigns of 46. Rahane too played sensibly for 22. Another comprehensive win for India. Their spinners set it up nicely.

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.

Gunaratne continues…

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.

Dilshan into the attack now.

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.

Gunaratne coming from round the wicket 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.

Senanayake back on for his final over.

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.

Gunaratne into the attack 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.

Chameera continues…

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.

Seekkuge Prasanna into the attack now.

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.

Back after the break. Rohit and Dhawan are the openers. Senanayake will start off proceedings.

What a brilliant bowling display from India. Ashwin started it off with four wickets from first five overs. It was good bowling but Sri Lanka were guilty of playing rash shots. Raina then chipped in with a couple of wickets and Jadeja shone with his bowling and fielding as well. Sri Lanka never got the momentum going and succumbed to their lowest T20I total.

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.

Bumrah replaces Raina…

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.

Ashwin back into the attack now.

After 13 overs, Sri Lanka 66/7 (Perera 9, Senanayake 5)

Raina too getting good amount of turn. Senanayake crunches one through covers for a couple. Just three runs off the over.

Suresh Raina into the attack now….

After 12 overs, Sri Lanka 63/7 (Perera 9, Senanayake 2)

Perera releases some pressure as he smashe s one through cover for a boundary. 9 runs off that over. A wayward one from Pandya.

Pandya continues…..Wonder why not spinners to finish this off?

After 11 overs, Sri Lanka 54/7 (Perera 3, Senanayake 0)

A wicket maiden from Jadeja. He’s getting it to rip and spin off the surface. Some of them are absolutely unplayable.

OUT! There you go, it was coming. Jadeja strikes. MD Shanaka b Jadeja 19 (24b 1×4 2×6)

Length delivery outside off, spinning away. Shanaka stays in his crease and looks to steer but gets an inside edge onto the stumps. 

Senanayake is the new batsman.

After 10 overs, Sri Lanka 54/6 (Shanaka 19, Perera 3)

TWO OVERS WITHOUT A WICKET LOST! Pandya bowls a tight over. 4 runs off it. The Indians are pumped up in the field.

Hardik Pandya into the attack now.

After 9 overs, Sri Lanka 50/6 (Shanaka 17, Perera 1)

Brilliant over from Jadeja. There is a huge LBW appeal turned down against Perera off the first ball, looked like it hit him just outside the line. He then beat Shanaka’s outside edge thrice in the over. All unplayable. He is getting plenty of turn.

After 8 overs, Sri Lanka 48/6 (Shanaka 17, Perera 0)

An eventful over from Yuvraj. He bowls a high full toss which is clobbered for a six by Shanaka. Shanaka then hammers the free hit on the sight screen for consecutive sixes. Prasanna then tries to take a risky single but only has to wak back to the hut. 15 runs and a wicket off the over.

OUT! Splendid piece of fielding from Jadeja! S Prasanna run out 9 (7b 2×4 0x6) 

Prasanna pushes it to mid off and sets off for a risky run. Jadeja charges in and scores a direct hit with a back flick. Prasanna is caught short. This is suicidal from Sri Lanka.

Thisara Pererais the new batsman.

Yuvraj Singh into the attack now…

After 7 overs, Sri Lanka 33/5 (Prasanna 8, Shanaka 4)

Looks like the spinners are unplayable. Jadeja got ample turn and was unlucky not to have Shanaka’s wicket. he induced an outside edge and it went through Dhoni’s gloves for a streaky four. There were a couple of plays and miss too as the ball ripped past the outside edge. 4 runs off the Jadeja over.

Jadeja into the attack now…

After 6 overs, Sri Lanka 29/5 (Prasanna 8, Shanaka 0)

Prasanna ends the Nehra over with a couple of fours. One off a pull over square leg and other off an inside edge wide of the stumps and Dhoni. 9 runs and a wicket off the over.

WICKETS ALERT! It’s a procession from Sri Lanka. Another two wickets fall and they are 21/5!

Ashwin tosses one up and it spins back in from middle and off, Gunaratne looks to tuck but seems to miss it, the ball flicks the thigh pad on its way to leg slip where Raina pouches it. They appeal and the umpire raises his finger.

Siriwardena then looks to pull a good length delivery on off from Nehra but misses it completely and finds his stumps shattered.

After 4 overs, Sri Lanka 20/3 (Gunaratne 4, Siriwardana 4)

Bumrah was getting it to zip. But Siriwardana ends the over well as he heaves one over mid on for a boundary. 5 runs off the over.

Bumrah into the attack now.

After 3 over, Sri Lanka 15/3 (Gunaratne 3, Siriwardana 0)

Another successful over from Ashwin. Three runs and a wicket off it.

OUT! Absolutely poor cricket from Chandimal. LD Chandimal c Pandya b Ashwin 8 (9b 2×4 0x6) 

Sri Lanka have already lost 2 wickets and Ashwin is bowling well, Chandimal for some unfathomable reasons looks to deposit one out of the ground but gets a top edge high in the air, Pandya at mid off makes no mistake.

Siriwardana is the new batsman.

After 2 over, Sri Lanka 12/2 (Chandimal 8, Gunaratne 0)

Chandimal on the counterattack. he slashes one over point for a boundary and then lofts one over mid on, not off the middle, for the second boundary of the over. Nehra got a hint of swing in that over.

After 1 over, Sri Lanka 3/2 (Chandimal 0, Gunaratne 0)

What a brilliant over from Ashwin. Three runs and two wickets off it. He got the ball to turn and Dhoni’s trick of opening the bowling has worked in successive matches.

Twin strikes from Ashwin in the first over. What a start for India.

He totally outfoxes Dickwella at first. It’s nicely flighted outside off, Gunathilaka charges down but is totally outfoxed by the away spin. He misses and Dhoni collects, takes his time and clips off the bails. Dickwella had given up. 

Ashwin then tosses it up outside off to Dilshan, it spins back in sharply. Dilshen looks to turn it tot he leg side off the front foot but misses and the umpire lifts his finger.

Right, Ashwin starts the proceedings for India…

For those of you interested in the Premier League: 

India XI: Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Ashish Nehra

There was a bit of a confusion there as I don’t think Dhoni actually said on TV whether he was going to bowl or bat. BCCI tweeted saying India will bat too. That’s sorted now. India will BOWL first.

Toss: India win the toss and bowl first. Unchanged side from Dhoni, Sri Lanka make 3 changes.

Mr. Ayaz Memon will be in the newsroom at the end of each innings. Stay tuned for live streaming of his analysis…

Mr. Ayaz Memon will be in the newsroom at the end of each innings. Stay tuned for live streaming of his analysis…

India’s last match at Visakhapatnam was a defeat to West Indies in the 2nd of 3 ODIS in 2013, where they failed to defend 288, thanks to ‘unfair’ amounts of dew as Dhoni put it after the match. That could play a role tonight as well. Moments away from toss….

Hint that Ajinkya Rahane could feature ahead of Manish Pandey once again? Will be surprised if Dhoni changes the XI…

Hint that Ajinkya Rahane could feature ahead of Manish Pandey once again? Will be surprised if Dhoni changes the XI…

B.E.L.T.E.R!

Some early news from the ground it seems like.. Sri Lanka’s Ashish Nehra moment…

Some early news from the ground it seems like.. Sri Lanka’s Ashish Nehra moment…

India vs Sri Lanka, 3rd T20I: Yuvraj’s lack of time in middle a concern as Dhoni’s men eye series win – Firstposthttp://www.firstpost.com

As we wait for the toss to happen in Visakhapatnam, here’s a preview of the final match. Yuvraj features heavily…

Hello and welcome to Firstpost’s live coverage of the third and deciding T20I between India and Sri Lanka. Much love to all our readers on this Valentine’s Day!