Harmanpreet Kaur's Fifty Guides India to Competitive Total Against Sri Lanka
India Sets Target in Final T20I
In the fifth and final T20I match against Sri Lanka held at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram, Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur's impressive fifty, complemented by a late surge from Arundhati Reddy, propelled India to a total of 175/7.
Reddy's Explosive Finish
Reddy, alongside Sneh Rana, contributed significantly with a quickfire partnership of 33 runs off just 14 balls for the eighth wicket, with Reddy hitting 20 runs off Malki Madara in the final over.
India's Early Struggles
After winning the toss, Sri Lanka's captain Chamari Athapaththu chose to field first. India faced an early setback, losing Shafali Verma for just five runs, while debutant G. Kamalini managed only 12 runs. Harleen Deol started well but was dismissed for 13 runs off 11 balls in the seventh over.
Wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh also struggled, scoring only five runs before being dismissed by Athapaththu in the ninth over. Despite Kaur's steady presence, India found themselves four wickets down within the first ten overs.
All-rounder Deepti Sharma followed Ghosh shortly after, falling victim to Athapaththu's slow off-spin, as she attempted a slog but ended up top-edging the ball to Nimasha Madushani.
Kaur's Stellar Performance
Kaur, in partnership with Amanjot Kaur, worked to stabilize the innings. While Amanjot rotated the strike effectively, Kaur consistently found the boundary.
In the 15th over, Kaur took on Athapaththu, hitting two consecutive fours to reach her fifty.
Late Wickets Disrupt India's Momentum
Rashmika Sewwandi ended the 61-run partnership for the sixth wicket by dismissing Amanjot, who scored 21 runs off 18 balls.
Kaur, after an outstanding innings of 68 runs, was bowled by Kavisha Dilhari in the 18th over, leaving India in a precarious position.
Ultimately, India concluded their innings at 175/7, setting a target of 176 runs for Sri Lanka to avoid a clean sweep in the five-match T20I series.