The Indian women’s cricket team registered a dominant win over Sri Lanka in the third T20I to take an unassailable 3–0 lead in the series. India’s comprehensive victory was powered by brilliant bowling from Renuka Singh and Deepti Sharma, followed by a stunning batting display from Shafali Verma.
After opting to bowl first, India restricted Sri Lanka to 112 runs for seven wickets in their 20 overs. The hosts then chased down the modest target comfortably in 13.2 overs, losing just two wickets to seal an emphatic eight-wicket victory on Friday.
Shafali Verma’s Blistering Half-Century Seals the Win
Shafali Verma set the tone from the very first over, attacking the Sri Lankan bowlers with fearless intent. She smashed a sensational half-century in just 24 balls and remained unbeaten on 79 off 42 deliveries, hammering 11 fours and three sixes in a breathtaking innings.
Her aggressive knock ensured there were no hiccups in the chase, as India cruised to victory well ahead of the required rate.
Smriti Mandhana Fails Again, Jemimah Supports Shafali
While Shafali dominated, opening partner Smriti Mandhana endured another disappointing outing. For the third consecutive match, Mandhana failed to produce a big score and was dismissed for 6 runs off 6 balls by Kavisha Dilhari in the fourth over.
Jemimah Rodrigues then joined Shafali at the crease and played a supporting role, helping India inch closer to the target. Jemimah scored 9 runs before being dismissed by Ranaviira, but her presence allowed Shafali to continue playing freely.
Shafali stayed unbeaten till the end and guided India home in style.
Shafali Surpasses Mithali Raj in T20I Runs
During her match-winning innings, Shafali Verma achieved a major personal milestone. She surpassed Mithali Raj to become India’s highest run-scorer in women’s T20 internationals.
- Mithali Raj: 2364 runs in 89 T20Is
- Shafali Verma: Surpassed the tally in 93 T20Is
Renuka Singh and Deepti Sharma Dismantle Sri Lanka
Earlier in the match, Sri Lanka’s batters struggled against India’s disciplined bowling attack. After posting scores of 128 and 122 in the first two games, the visitors were restricted to 112/7 in the third T20I.
Returning to the XI, Renuka Singh picked up four wickets, while Deepti Sharma claimed three wickets, completely dismantling the Sri Lankan lineup. Renuka replaced Sneh Rana, while Deepti came in for Arundhati Reddy.
Sri Lanka’s openers Chamari Athapaththu (3) and Hasini Perera (25) provided a cautious start, but Deepti dismissed Athapaththu in the fifth over, triggering a collapse. By the end of the powerplay, Sri Lanka had already lost three wickets.
Renuka removed Hasini Perera and Harshitha Samarawickrama, cleaning up the top order. A brief 40-run partnership between Imesha Dulani (27) and Kavisha Dilhari (20) helped Sri Lanka cross the 100-run mark, but the damage had already been done.
Deepti Sharma Equals Megan Schutt’s T20I Wicket Record
With her three-wicket haul, Deepti Sharma achieved another major milestone. She equalled Australian pacer Megan Schutt for the most wickets in women’s T20 internationals.
- Deepti Sharma & Megan Schutt: 151 T20I wickets
- Nida Dar (Pakistan): 144 wickets
India Women Dominate Series with All-Round Excellence
With this commanding victory, India Women not only secured the match but also sealed the series 3–0, showcasing their dominance with both bat and ball. The team’s form heading into future international assignments looks extremely promising.
