3rd T20I: Iyer’s 3rd straight fifty leads India to SL series whitewash

Shreyas Iyer scored his third consecutive
half-century to help India beat Sri Lanka by six wickets in the third and final T20I Dharamsala on
Sunday, complete a third series clean sweep in a row and equal the record winning
streak in the format.

Iyer top-scored for India with 73 from 45 deliveries,
a knock that included nine fours and a solitary six and helped India wrap up the chase in 16.5 overs after Avesh Khan and Mohammed Siraj enjoyed a brilliant run in the powerplay overs.

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Iyer’s knock took his total for the series to 205,
with the Mumbai-born batsman remaining unbeaten in all three innings.

Chasing a 147-run target at the HPCA Stadium,
India faltered from the start as skipper Rohit Sharma was dismissed for just five,
13 shy of becoming the third Indian to complete 1,000 T20I runs as captain. 

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Iyer then stitched a 45-run stand with Sanju
Samson (18), who opened the innings in the absence of Ishan Kishan – ruled out
after suffering a head injury in the second T20I.

Like in the second T20I, Iyer finished the match along with Ravindra Jadeja, who remained unbeaten on 22 from 15. 

Earlier, Avesh made amends for a forgettable debut as his scorching opening spell alongside Mohammed Siraj put the Sri Lankans on the back foot straightaway, as both made full use of the pace and bounce on offer on the Dharamsala track.

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Even the two wrist spinners, Ravi Bishnoi (4-0-32-1) and Kuldeep Yadav (4-0-25-0), did well enough to bottle up the islanders on a chilly night.

Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka was once again the saviour with a 74 not out off 38 balls that took his team close to 150-run mark. Shanaka hit nine fours and two sixes.