Renuka-Shafali's heroics help India thrash Sri Lanka by 8 wickets in 3rd T20I to seal series

The Indian women’s cricket team put on a show to record a solid eight-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the third T20I and claim an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series. The win was built on a clinical bowling performance that restricted the visitors to 112/7 followed by a blistering yet unbeaten 79 from Shafali Verma which saw India chase down the target with 40 balls to spare.

India women crush Sri Lanka by 8 wickets in 3rd T20I to clinch series 

The bowling effort was highlighted by a sensational comeback from Renuka Singh Thakur, playing her first T20I in a year. Renuka dismantled the Sri Lankan top order with figures of 4/21, effectively shifting the momentum in India's favor from the outset. She was perfectly complimented by the dependable Deepti Sharma, whose 3/18 not only stifled the middle order but also allowed her to equal Megan Schutt's world record of 151 T20I wickets.

Sri Lanka’s innings began with a flash of intent from Hasini Perera, who took 12 runs off Renuka’s opening over and utilized innovative shots, like the scoop, to keep the scoreboard moving. However, her aggression couldn't mask the struggles of captain Chamari Athapaththu, who found it difficult to rotate the strike. The pressure eventually told when Deepti Sharma forced a top-edge from Athapaththu, which was safely held by Harmanpreet Kaur, sparking a collapse from which the visitors never fully recovered.

Renuka Singh Thakur quickly found her rhythm and delivered a decisive second spell in the sixth over. She struck twice in quick succession, first dismissing the dangerous Hasini Perera and then executing a sharp caught-and-bowled to remove Harshitha Samarawickrama for just 2. These twin blows left the Sri Lankan top order in tatters at 32/3. Renuka continued her dominance in the 10th over, trapping Nilakshika Silva leg-before to further tighten India’s grip on the contest.

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While Kavisha Dilhari and Imesha Dulani attempted to stabilize the innings with a 40-run partnership, their recovery was short-lived. Deepti Sharma provided the crucial breakthrough by dismissing Dilhari, a wicket that marked a historic personal milestone as her 150th scalp in the T20I format.

Following that breakthrough, the tandem of Deepti and Renuka proved relentless, picking up wickets at regular intervals. Their combined efforts ensured that Sri Lanka could never regain any offensive momentum, ultimately restricting the visitors to a subpar total that left the Indian batters with a straightforward task ahead.

Meanwhile, the fourth T20I between India and Sri Lanka will be played on December 28.