R. Ashwin’s best spell ever sent Sri Lanka crashing to its lowest total in the Twenty20 format and set the course for India to win the third and deciding match by nine wickets and wrap up the series 2-1. Sri Lanka’s previous lowest was 87 against Australia at Bridgetown in the 2010 World Twenty20.
Sri Lanka’s top order perished in 26 balls as Ashwin completed his first spell with splendid figures of four wickets for five runs in three overs. His final tally was 4-1-8-4 at the ACA-VDCA Stadium here on Sunday night.
M.S. Dhoni won the toss and decided that India would bowl first for the first time in the series. He kept faith in the team that played the last two matches while Sri Lanka made three changes but put up a much poor show.
Sri Lanka brought back Dilhara Fernando, capped 30-year-Asela Gunaratne and gave another chance to Niroshan Dickwella. But all its efforts to win the crunch match failed miserably.
Shikhar Dhawan and Ajinkya Rahane led the team to victory in 13.5 overs after Rohit Sharma was trapped in front by Dushmantha Chameera at the team’s score of 29.
With no good total to back them on a batting strip, the Sri Lankan bowlers had little to achieve. Only Chameera looked good as he bowled with control.
Ashwin sent the packed stadium into raptures with the third ball of the night when he forced Dickwella to come out and leave Dhoni to do the rest. Ashwin ended the over trapping the experienced Dilshan Tillakaratne as he beat him with turn.
The Indian spinner went on to pick up two more wickets. Dinesh Chandimal ballooned the ball trying for a big hit and was caught by Pandya, while Gunaratne tried to flick the bowler but ended up giving a catch to Suresh Raina. The ball appeared to have kissed the batsman’s gloves.
There was not much of a resistance from Sri Lanka which just could not get back into the match. Ashish Nehra kept one low and disturbed Siriwardana’s stumps.
The introduction of Yuvraj Singh saw Dasun Shanaka making the best use of lose bowling.
Yuvraj was no-balled as he bowled higher than the permissible limit as Shanaka slammed him over mid-wicket. The free hit was sent for a straight six.
But in the same over, a hasty run put to an end any hopes Sri Lanka entertained of staging a comeback. Yuvraj misfielded after Prasanna drove him back but Ravindra Jadeja came running from the covers to hit the stumps.
Jadeja then claimed Shanaka, who top scored with 19, as the batsman inner-edged the ball on to his stumps. Raina struck twice in an over to remove Tishara Perera and Sachitra Senanayake who looked like taking the score past 100.
Jasprit Bumrah picked up Fernando to close out the Sri Lankan innings.