India rode on Shreyas Iyer's third consecutive half-centurion knock to sink Sri Lanka by six wickets in the third T20I as they went on to clinch a hat-trick of series sweep in the shortest format in Dharamsalaon on Sunday (February 27). India registered their 12th consecutive T20I victory and fourth clean sweep under Rohit's regime.
Shreyas remained unbeaten in the three-match series as he pummeled a rollicking 73 to leave Sri Lankan bowlers in all sorts of bother.
Chasing a target of 147, India got off to a scrappy start as skipper Rohit Sharma (5) again succumbed to Dushmantha Chameera when the scoreboard read 6/1. Opener Sanju Samson then paired with Shreyas Iyer to steady India's boat to steer their side to 51/1. But soon after that Chamika Karunaratne gave India their second jolt in the form of Samson who was dismissed for 18 off 12. However, Shreyas was in a different mood as he started belting Sri Lankan bowlers left, right and centre to anchor India's innings. He played a phenomenal unbeaten knock of 73 off 45 in which he blasted nine fours and one big one. Shreyas struck his third consecutive half century of the series. He was later joined by Ravindra Jadeja , who once again played a perfect support with 22 not out from 15 balls as the duo stitched together an unbroken stand of 45 runs to give India a 3-0 sweep, chasing down the target in 16.5 overs.
Shreyas, whose game against the short ball was once found to be suspect, had a rubber to remember with a hat-trick of half-centuries, an aggregate of 200 runs that fetched him the Player-of-the-Series Award. It was a 'Super Subs' day out with India making four changes in the playing XI, including Ishan Kishan due to concussion. They came up trumps without breaking much sweat.
Earlier, Avesh Khan made amends for a not so good debut as his fiery opening spell alongside Mohammed Siraj helped India sum up Sri Lanka to 146 for five in the third and final T20 International on Sunday (February 27).
For India skipper Rohit Sharma, who became the most capped T20I player in world cricket with his 125th appearance in the national jersey, it was a delight to see the reserves coming out and performing on a track that had enough pace and bounce to help the speed merchants.
Even the two wrist spinners, Ravi Bishnoi (4-0-32-1) and Kuldeep Yadav (4-0-25-0), did well enough to bottle up the islanders on a chilly night.
Strange enough, for two years Bishnoi has been only bowling googlies but with so much accuracy, that the batters in IPL and now in international cricket are yet to get a measure of him.
Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka was once again the saviour with a 74 not out off 38 balls that took his team to a competitive total of 146. Shanaka hit nine fours and two sixes.
But it was Avesh (4-1-23-2) and Siraj (4-0-22-1), who just dismantled the Lankan top-order with pace and bounce, as they were reduced to 11/3 in the fourth over and there was no coming back from there.
Siraj started it by hurrying Danushka Gunathilaka (0) with a short ball which he tried to pull but only managed to drag back onto the stumps.
Avesh, who went for 40 odd runs on debut on a Eden Gardens belter, bowled much fuller from his usual back-of-length stuff and sent back Pathum Nissanka (1) and Charith Asalanka (4), both deliveries hitting the bat faster than they could have comprehended.
The best part about India's performance was that vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah, veteran Bhuvneshwar Kumar and first choice wrist spinner Yuzvendra Chahal were given a much- needed break. The skipper is spoilt for choice as he and coach Rahul Dravid are slowly building a set-up where they have multiple options for each and every position in both departments.
Rohit's men will look to continue their unbeaten streak going forward for the Test series against Sri Lanka which is slated to start from March 4.
