India vs. Sri Lanka: Harmanpreet Kaur stars as India beats Sri Lanka

• Image Credit: Internet

• Jul 7, 2022 | Dhupali Das

With the score at 30, Smriti Mandhana was the first player to be dismissed for six runs. 

Digital Desk: Harmanpreet Kaur's batting heroics helped India win the third ODI by 39 runs, thereby sealing a clean sweep over hosts Sri Lanka on Thursday.

Kaur saved India from a middle-order collapse by scoring a spirited 75 from 88 balls to help the team reach a respectable total of 255 for 9 in the allotted 50 overs. 

Earlier, the openers got the visitors off to a good start but could not replicate their feats from the previous game. With the score at 30, Smriti Mandhana was the first player to be dismissed for six runs. However, Shafali Verma continued to play and was helped by Yastika Bhatia. Before Bhatia was dismissed for 30 by Inoka Ranaweera, the two put on a 59-run partnership.

This sparked India's middle-order collapse, and they soon found themselves in danger with a score of 124 for 6. Then, Kaur played a captain's knock as she led India through the challenging phase, with excellent assistance from Pooja Vastrakar. The all-rounder was unbeaten after scoring 56 runs from 65 balls.

Out of the 88 deliveries she faced, the Indian captain hit seven boundaries and two sixes throughout her innings.

In response, Sri Lanka got off to a terrible start, losing opener Vishmi Gunaratne for just three runs after scoring just seven. Despite playing a solid knock of 44 from 41 deliveries, captain Chamari Athapaththu was dismissed by her opponent and sent back to the pavilion.

Hasini Perara provided some resistance after Athapaththu was dismissed, Nilakshi de Silva played a brilliant 48 off 59 balls in the end to give the hosts some hope. However, the other players could not contribute with the bat, and Sri Lanka's innings ended with 216 runs.

The spinner of choice for India was Rajeshwari Gayakwad, who claimed three wickets in 10 overs for just 36 runs.