Thiruvananthapuram: Renuka Singh’s four wickets and Shafali Verma’s unbeaten half-century helped India win the third WT20I of the five-match home series against Sri Lanka by eight wickets at the Greenfield International Stadium on Friday.
The win helped the hosts take a 3-0 lead in the series, with the final to be played at the same venue on Sunday.
Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur’s decision to field first paid off as her team’s bowling reduced Sri Lanka to a modest total of 112/7 in 20 overs.
Middle-order batsman Imesha Dhulani top-scored for the visitors with a cautious 27 off 32 balls, followed by opener Hasini Perera with a blistering 25 off 18 balls.
Apart from them, Kavisha Dilhari (20) and wicketkeeper-batter Kaushini Nutyangana (19 not out) could score double figures against a dominant Indian bowling attack led by Renuka and Deepti Sharma.
Renuka took 4 wickets conceding just 21 runs in her four overs while Deepthi took 3 wickets for 18 runs in her four overs.
Renuka was adjudged man of the match for his four wicket haul.
In turn, India chased down the target of 113 runs to win with 2 wickets and 40 balls to spare.
Opener Verma led them on with an unbeaten 79 off 42 balls with 11 fours and 3 sixes.
His efforts were supported by captain Kaur, who scored an unbeaten 21 off 18 balls. The two shared a match-winning 48-run partnership after top-order batsmen Smriti Mandhana and Jemima Rodriguez fell cheaply.
Kavisha Dilhari was the lone wicket-taker for Sri Lanka, claiming two wickets for 18 runs in her three overs.