Bowlers Step Up As India Beat Sri Lanka By 91 Runs In 3rd T20I; Clinch T20I Series 2-1

IND vs SL: After a dismaying outing in the 2nd T20I, Indian bowlers stepped up and restricted Sri Lanka to 137/10 in the 3rd T20I, winning the match by 91 runs. Surykumar remained the hero of the match with his 3rd T20I ton as India clinched the 3-match series 2-1. 

Coming out to chase a mammoth 230 runs to win, Sri Lanka got off to a good start as openers added 44 runs in 4.4 overs. Axar Patel provided the opening wicket as Kusal Mendis handed one to Umran Malik after scoring 23 runs in 15 balls. 

From thereon, none of the batters were able to stay on the crease for a considerable amount of time. No big partnerships were built and eventually Sri Lanka were bowled out with 3.2 overs remaining. Dasun Shanaka and Mendis were the top scorers with 23 runs each.

For India, Arshdeep Singh made an impactful comeback with 3 wickets to his name in just 2.4 overs. Hardik Pandya, Umran Malik and Yuzvendra Chahal picked up 2 wickets each while Axar Patel registered 1 wicket to his name. Shivam Mavi went wicketless in the only 1 over he bowled, conceding 6 runs. 

In the first innings, Suryakumar Yadav smacked his 3rd T20I ton at an emphatic strike rate and powered team India to a mighty 228/5 against Sri Lanka. The 3-match T20I series is currently levelled at 1-1 and the winner of this match will take the series win. 

India lost opener Ishan Kishan (1) in the very first over against Dilshan Madushanka as India got off to a disappointing start. Rahul Tripathi played a short and full of-action cameo, scoring 35 runs off just 16 balls with 5 fours & 2 sixes. Tripathi and Shubman Gill etched a partnership of 49 runs off 31 balls for the 2nd wicket. 

While Tripathi fell to Karunaratne in the last over of the powerplay, Gill continued carefully as he scored 46 runs off 36 balls. Indian vice-captain, Suryakumar Yadav, who had a below-par series till now, smashed an unbeaten 112 runs off just 51 balls with 7 fours & 9 sixes. The #1 T20I batter played at a strike rate of 219.61, taking all Lankan bowlers to the cleaners. 

For Sri Lanka, Madushanka picked up 2 wickets while Kasun Rajitha, Chamika Karunaratne and Wanindu Hasaranga managed 1 wicket each. However, none of the bowlers had an economy of below 8 and were very expensive.

Also Read: SA20, 2023 - Squads & Schedule

Earlier, India captain Hardik Pandya won the toss & opted to bat first against Sri Lanka in the 3rd T20I. This match is being played at Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Rajkot. 

Brief Score:

• IND – 228/5 (Suryakumar - 112*(51), Madushanka - 2/55)
• SL – 137/10 in 16.4 overs (Mendis - 23(15), Arshdeep - 3/20)