Harmanpreet Kaur’s fifty and clinical bowling help India crush Sri Lanka by 15 Runs in fifth T20I to complete 5-0 series whitewash

India completed a dominant 5-0 whitewash over Sri Lanka in the fifth and final T20I at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram, with skipper Harmanpreet Kaur's brilliant fifty and a disciplined bowling performance from the team.

After being asked to bat, India struggled early after losing their top order. New openers G Kamalini and Shafali Verma fell cheaply, leaving the team reeling at 64 for four in the tenth over. Kamalini managed 12 before being trapped in front by Kavisha Dilhari, while Shafali fell for just five, caught at long-on off Nimasha Meepage. Harleen Deol provided brief support with 13 runs, but wickets kept tumbling, and India slumped to 77 for five.

Harmanpreet Kaur led from the front

At the crucial stage, Harmanpreet Kaur rose to the occasion. The Indian captain played a mature and powerful innings of 68 off 43 balls, smashing nine fours and a six. Her 61-run partnership with Amanjot Kaur (21) revived India’s innings and helped set a competitive total of 175 for seven. Arundhati Reddy’s quickfire 27 not out off just 11 balls further boosted the total, including four boundaries and a six.

Sri Lanka's chase

Sri Lanka’s off to a good start, with Hasini Perera (65) and Imesha Dulani (50) forming a second-wicket partnership of 79 runs. Both batters looked solid, rotating the strike well and finding the boundaries consistently. However, despite their efforts, the team could not accelerate in the latter stages and lost wickets at crucial moments.

India's clinical bowling

India’s bowlers remained clinical throughout. Amanjot Kaur dismissed Dulani in the 12th over, breaking the partnership, and Deepti Sharma trapped Nilakshika Silva leg-before wicket in the 14th over to make history. With this wicket, Deepti became the highest wicket-taker in women’s T20Is, claiming her 152nd scalp and surpassing Australia’s Megan Schutt. Spin duo Deepti and Vaishnavi Sharma kept Sri Lanka’s run rate under control, while Chamari Athapaththu and Kavisha Dilhari took two wickets each, but it wasn’t enough to mount a serious challenge. Sri Lanka finished on 160 for seven, falling short by 15 runs. 

Brief scores: India: 175 for 7 in 20 overs (Harmanpreet Kaur 68, Amanjot Kaur 21, Arundhati Reddy 27 not out; Chamari Athapaththu 2/21, Kavisha Dilhari 2/11) beat Sri Lanka: 160/7 in 20 overs (Hasini Perera 65, Imesha Dulani 50; Deepti Sharma 1-28).