India edge past Sri Lanka in fifth WT20I to complete series sweep

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Captain Harmanpreet Kaur's blistering half-century, followed by a collective bowling effort, led India to a narrow 15-run victory over Sri Lanka in the fifth WT20I here at the Greenfield International Stadium on Tuesday.

The victory meant India completed the 5-0 clean sweep over Sri Lanka, asserting their dominance in home conditions.

Put into bat first in the last match of the series, the home side racked up a formidable total of 175/7 in their allotted 20 overs, with skipper Kaur leading the charge.

The right-handed batter oversaw India's batting charge after walking out to bat in the fifth over and held one end firmly until falling victim to Kavisha Dilhari in the 18th.

She remained the top-scorer with a 43-ball 68, studded with 10 boundaries, including a six, which earned her the Player of the Match award.

Besides Kaur, all-rounder Arundhati Reddy and lower-order batter Arundhati Reddy made vital contributions, scoring 21 and 27 not out, respectively.

For Sri Lanka, skipper Chamari Athapaththu, Rashmika Sewwandi and Dilhari bagged two wickets each, while Nimasha Meepage claimed one.

Chasing a daunting 176-run target, Sri Lanka could accumulate 160/7 in their stipulated overs despite half-centuries from top-order batters Hasini Perera and Imesha Dulani.

Perera remained the top-scorer with 65 off 42 deliveries, comprising eight fours and a six, while Dulani made 50 from 39 deliveries, laced with eight boundaries.

The duo also shared a 79-run partnership for the second wicket and had kept Sri Lanka in the hunt; however, their middle order's failure eventually barred them from amassing the target.

Besides the top-order duo, only Sewwandi, who scored an unbeaten 14 off eight deliveries, could amass double figures against a disciplined Indian bowling attack.

For India, Deepti Sharma, Arundhati Reddy, Sneh Rana, Vaishnavi Sharma, Shree Charani and Amanjot Kaur all picked up one wicket apiece.