Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur hit 75 while left-arm spinner Rajeshwari Gaikwad took three wickets and Pooja Vastrakar shone with her all-round performance to help. India They beat Sri Lanka by 39 runs in the third ODI at Pallekele to win the series 3–0.
At one point, India were 124/6 in 29.2 overs, and from there, Harmanpreet saved India with her 16th ODI half-century, 75 off 88 balls, seven fours and two sixes. He also shared a crucial 97-run partnership with Pooja, who remained unbeaten on 56 off 65 balls, hitting three sixes as India reached 255/9 in their 50 overs.
Defending 255, Harmanpreet dealt a big blow to the hosts by dismissing Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu for 44 off 41 balls. Rajeshwari took three for 36 in her ten overs, while Pooja and Meghna Singh took two late wickets as Sri Lanka were bowled out for 216 in 47.3 overs.
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After youngster Vishmi Gunaratne fell cheap, Chamari and Hasini Perera (39 off 57 balls) shared a 56-run stand to give the hosts a chance to chase down the target. Unfortunately, none of them got a big knock as Rajeshwari bowled Hasini from the gate while Harmanpreet got Chamari caught at mid-on.
After Chamari fell, wickets fell quickly for Sri Lanka, and despite all-rounder Nilakshi de Silva (48 not out from 59 balls), with Rashmi de Silva and Inoka Ranvira scoring 28 and 33 for the last two wickets, it was just It was too late for Sri Lanka to avoid a series sweep at the hands of India.
Earlier, India lost opener Smriti Mandhana early but young Shafali Verma hit five fours for 49 off 50 balls before being dismissed lbw by leg-spinner Rashmi de Silva. Despite a 50-run stand between Shafali and Yastika Bhatia (30), India slipped to 124/6 in 29.2 overs as Rashmi, Inoka and Oshadi Ranasinghe demolished the middle-order.
But from there, Harmanpreet took charge of the batting and stabilized the ship with a perfect second fiddle to Pooja. He was also helped by the fact that Pooja was dropped early in her innings at mid-wicket, while later, Harmanpreet escaped a stumping opportunity when Anoushka Sanjeevani missed it.
The pair took risks against spin, sharing a 117-ball 97 that ended India with 255/9, giving the bowling attack a competitive total to defend against Sri Lanka. Harmanpreet was adjudged the player of the match and also took the player of the series award. In the T20I series, which India won 2-1, Harmanpreet also won the Player of the Series award.
Brief scores: India beat Sri Lanka 216 in 47.3 overs (Nilakshi de Silva 48 not out, Chamari Athapaththu) 255/9 in 50 overs (Harmanpreet Kaur 75, Pooja Vastrakar 56; Inoka Ranvira 2-22, Chamari Athapaththu 2-45) 44, Rajeshwari Gaikwad 3-36, Meghna 2-32) by 39 runs
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