Suryakumar Yadav scored a dazzling century as India registered a comprehensive 91 run win over Sri Lanka in the third and the final T20 international at Rajkot on Saturday.
After winning the toss and electing to bat first India got off to a bad start as left hander Ishan Kishan (1) edged a delivery from Dilshan Madushanka to Dhananjaya de Silva at slip.
Rahul Tripathi, playing only his second T20, took on the Lankan bowlers right from the word go. He smashed a quickfire 16 ball-35, making up for Shubman Gill’s sedate start at the other end, before perishing to Chamika Karunaratne.
The pair of Gill along with Suryakumar featured in a scintillating 111 run stand for the third wicket before the former (46) was cleaned up by Wanindu Hasaranga.
Hardik Pandya (4) and Deepak Hooda (4) both fell in quick succession while trying to up the scoring rate. However vice captain Suryakumar continued his merry way as he brought up his third T20 hundred off just 45 deliveries.
All rounder Axar Patel provided a late flourish by scoring a quickfire 9 ball 21 to take India to a mammoth score of 228/5 in their allotted 20 overs.
Chasing 229, openers Pathum Nissanka along with Kusal Mendis got the Islanders off to a blazing start. The duo added 44 runs for the opening stand before the latter (23) slogged a delivery from Axar to Umran Malik at short third man.
Nissanka then miscued a pull off Arshdeep Singh to Shivam Mavi for 15. Pandya then got into the act by claiming Avishka Fernando caught at fine leg by Arshdeep for 1.
Dhananjaya de Silva and Charith Asalanka added 33 runs for the fourth wicket before the latter fell to a brilliant catch by Mavi off Yuzvendra Chahal for 19.
Leg spinner Chahal then claimed his second wicket by having Dhananjaya caught at deep backward square leg by Gill as the visitors lost half their side for 96.
The likes of Hasaranga (9), Karunaratne (0) and Mahesh Theekshana (2) failed to make substantial contributions as Sri Lanka continued to lose wickets at regular intervals.
Arshdeep finished off the innings by dismissing skipper Shanaka and Madushanka (1) as the visitors were skittled out for 137 in 16.4 overs.
With this emphatic victory, the hosts won the series 2-1.
India 228 for 5 (Suryakumar 112*, Gill 46, Madushanka 2-55) beat Sri Lanka 137 (Mendis 23, Arshdeep 3-20, Hardik 2-30) by 91 runs