Renuka Singh Thakur and Deepti Sharma produced a bowling masterclass before Shafali Verma’s fireworks with the bat powered India to a resounding eight-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the third women’s T20I on Friday, sealing the five-match series 3-0 in commanding fashion. The match followed a script that has defined India’s dominance in the series – disciplined bowling to restrict Sri Lanka, followed by a ruthless batting display to chase down the target comfortably.
Playing her first T20I since December last year, Renuka marked her return in the grandest way possible, rattling the Sri Lankan batting lineup with a fiery spell of 4 for 21. Complementing her brilliantly was the ever-consistent Deepti Sharma, who not only picked 3 for 18 but also etched her name into history by becoming the joint-highest wicket-taker in women’s T20Is, equalling Australia’s Megan Schutt with 151 wickets. Their exceptional efforts restricted Sri Lanka to a modest 112 for seven.
Chasing 113, Shafali Verma unleashed a breathtaking assault, smashing an unbeaten 79 off just 42 balls to single-handedly dismantle the Sri Lankan bowling attack. After a cautious beginning that included three dot balls, Shafali exploded to life with a towering 83-metre six over long-off, followed by consecutive boundaries. Her innings was a blend of power and precision as she hammered 11 fours and three sixes, finishing the match with 40 balls to spare.
Sri Lanka briefly found hope through spinner Kavisha Dilhari (2/18), who dismissed vice-captain Smriti Mandhana (1), whose lean patch continued, and Jemimah Rodrigues. However, Shafali’s relentless aggression ensured India were never under pressure as she sealed the victory in style with a boundary.
Earlier, Sri Lanka, desperate to stay alive in the series, got off to a promising start thanks to Hasini Perera (25), who struck early boundaries to put pressure on the Indian bowlers. Her innovative strokeplay, including a scoop over the wicketkeeper, helped maintain momentum even as skipper Chamari Athapaththu struggled to rotate the strike.
But India staged a strong comeback. Deepti Sharma provided the breakthrough as Athapaththu miscued a charge down the track, handing an easy catch to captain Harmanpreet Kaur. Renuka then returned brilliantly in her second spell, removing Perera and Harshitha Samarawickrama in the same over, suddenly leaving Sri Lanka reeling at 32 for 3. She struck again in the 10th over to trap Nilakshika Silva leg-before, tightening India’s grip.
Kavisha Dilhari (20) and Imesha Dulani tried to rebuild with a 40-run partnership, but Deepti struck again, claiming Dilhari’s wicket – also marking her iconic 150th T20I scalp. From there, Renuka and Deepti continued to chip away, ensuring Sri Lanka never recovered and were held to a below-par total.
With their emphatic win, India not only clinched the series but also showcased their growing dominance and composure in the shorter format, sending a strong message to the cricketing world ahead of future challenges.