Shafali's batting fireworks in Thiruvananthapuram; India register comfortable win over Lanka in third T20

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: India Women won the third T20I against Sri Lanka at the Greenfield Stadium in Kariavattom to take a 3-0 lead in the five-match series. After losing the toss, Sri Lanka were restricted to 112/7 in their allotted 20 overs, while India reached the target in 13.2 overs with the loss of just two wickets.

Renuka Singh, who took four wickets, and Deepti Sharma, with three wickets, tore apart the Lankan batting line. Shafali Verma, who scored a half-century for the second consecutive match, helped India to an easy victory in the third match of the series. Shafali scored an unbeaten 79 runs off 42 balls, which included 11 fours and three sixes, while captain Harmanpreet Kaur strengthened the partnership, scoring 21 runs.

Hasini Perera (25) and captain Chamari Athapaththu (3) came out to start the Sri Lankan innings. Hasini started firing shots from the beginning, but Chamari stumbled. Deepti dismissed Chamari, who was struggling until the fifth over.

Deepti Sharma became the first Indian woman cricketer to complete 150 wickets in ODIs and T20Is. On Friday, Deepti completed 150 wickets in T20Is.

The Indian women's team, who are the ODI World Cup champions, were given a rousing welcome by the spectators at the Kariavattom Greenfield Stadium. Both teams reached the stadium at 5:30 pm. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues entered the stadium amid raucous applause from the crowd.