Harmanpreet, Reddy fire India to 5-0 T20I series win over Sri Lanka
Harmanpreet, Reddy fire India to 5-0 T20I series win over Sri Lanka
Harmanpreet Kaur's 68 and Arundhati Reddy's late 27* help India post 175/7, then defend to clinch a 5-0 whitewash in the fifth T20I at Greenfield Stadium.
India tightened its grip on the series, clinching a 5-0 whitewash in the fifth T20I against Sri Lanka at the Greenfield Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram. Harmanpreet Kaur belted 68 off 43 balls and teamed up with Arundhati Reddy for a late flourish, lifting India to a competitive 175 for seven after a wobbly start. A new opening pair saw Kamalini on debut with Shafali Verma, who has been the backbone of India’s series, but both were dismissed early—Kamalini to Kavisha Dilhari’s first ball and Shafali to a sharp catch, revealing the pressure of a well-balanced Sri Lankan attack. Still, Amanjot Kaur and Harmanpreet steadied the innings, adding 61 for the sixth wicket and providing the backbone for a defendable total.
Sri Lanka’s chase began in earnest with Chamari Athapaththu falling early, but Hasini Perera and Imesha Dulani steadied the innings with a 79-run partnership for the second wicket. Perera struck 65 off 42 with eight fours and a six, and Dulani contributed a patient 50 off 39, but no other Sri Lankan batters could sustain the scoring rate as the Indian bowlers reeled them in. Deepti Sharma claimed the prized wicket of Nilakshika Silva, chalking up her 152nd T20I wicket to become the leading bowler in women’s T20Is, surpassing Megan Schutt.
India’s bowlers then closed out the death overs with discipline, and while Shafali Verma’s explosive series runs were interrupted by a rare quiet outing in this match, the hosts had enough in their ranks to seal the win. The victory underscores India’s depth, with Kamalini’s cap and Amanjot Kaur’s steady 61-run stand illustrating that India can rely on multiple contributors in tight moments. Deepti Sharma’s wicket-taking prowess continues to lead the way for India’s bowling unit, a reminder of how far the team has come in white-ball cricket.
The series crown comes at the end of a dominant run for India, signaling a strong finish to the year and setting a confident tone for future challenges in the format.
