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- India vs Sri Lanka Live Score, 5th Women's T20I: India wrap up 5-0 clean sweep as Sri Lanka crumble under pressure
India vs Sri Lanka Live Score, 5th Women's T20I: India wrap up 5-0 clean sweep as Sri Lanka crumble under pressure
The batters played with freedom, boundaries came in clusters, and the bowlers applied constant pressure. On paper, it was a flawless series. On the field, however, a familiar weakness resurfaced — sloppy fielding.
Despite controlling every major moment, India repeatedly let themselves down in the basics. These were not difficult chances or athletic dives gone wrong. They were regulation catches that should be taken every time at international level. In the fourth T20I, Smriti Mandhana dropped a simple catch at long-on after a mistimed shot ballooned into her hands.
Soon after, Deepti Sharma spilled another straightforward chance, allowing the ball to trickle away for four instead of ending the over with a dot or wicket.
Such moments were not isolated. India dropped five catches in the series opener in Visakhapatnam, three of them straightforward. The pattern continued through the series, with missed chances punctuating otherwise dominant performances. That these errors did not change results is both reassuring and concerning. India’s depth in batting and discipline with the ball ensured Sri Lanka never capitalised, but repeated mistakes risk becoming habits when they go unpunished.
Wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh tried to put things in perspective after the fourth T20I.
“We had an off day in the field. It’s understandable, but everyone in this team is working really hard on their fielding drills. I won’t say anything about the fielding for this one game,” she said.
Head coach Amol Muzumdar will likely see this series as a reminder that dominance alone is not enough. India’s batting looks fearless and the bowling unit increasingly sharp, but fielding remains the missing piece. At the highest level, matches and tournaments are decided by moments — sharp catches, quick stops and saved runs.
With the T20 World Cup just six months away, India have time to address the issue. Sri Lanka were forgiving. Stronger opponents will not be.
SLW vs INDW Squads:
Sri Lanka Women Squad: Hasini Perera, Chamari Athapaththu(c), Imesha Dulani, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Kavisha Dilhari, Nilakshika Silva, Rashmika Sewwandi, Kaushani Nuthyangana(w), Malsha Shehani, Kawya Kavindi, Nimasha Madushani, Malki Madara, Shashini Gimhani, Vishmi Gunaratne, Inoka Ranaweera
India Women Squad: Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Richa Ghosh(w), Harmanpreet Kaur(c), Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Amanjot Kaur, Arundhati Reddy, Vaishnavi Sharma, Renuka Singh Thakur, Shree Charani, Jemimah Rodrigues, G Kamalini, Kranti Gaud, Sneh Rana
- Hasini Perera 23 (16)
- Imesha Dulani 29 (21)
Vaishnavi Sharma to Hasini Perera, FOUR! Absolutely hammered! What was turning out be a quiet over from India's perspective is somewhat spoiled by a boundary on the last ball. A half-tracker, well wide on off, Perera needs no second invitation as she gets on top of it and slaps it through point for a boundary.
Vaishnavi Sharma to Imesha Dulani, Keeps it short, angled in on middle. Imesha Dulani steps out and turns it towards deep mid-wicket for one more.
Vaishnavi Sharma to Imesha Dulani, Coming in with the arm, not all that short, on middle. Imesha Dulani stays back and cuts it to point.
Vaishnavi Sharma to Hasini Perera, Slightly slower and fuller too, on off, eased down to long on for a run.
Vaishnavi Sharma to Imesha Dulani, 50 comes up for Sri Lanka! Flatter and shorter, on middle. Imesha uses her feet and tucks it wide of mid-wicket for one.
Vaishnavi Sharma to Hasini Perera, Starts with a flighted delivery from over the wicket, full and on off, Hasini gets behind the line and plays a punchy drive to long on for a single.
- Hasini Perera 17 (13)
- Imesha Dulani 27 (18)
Deepti Sharma to Hasini Perera, Fuller and quicker, across off, Hasini clips it through mid-wicket and keeps the strike with a single. 12 runs off the last over of the Powerplay. At the end of 6 overs, Sri Lanka are 48/1. At the same stage, India were 40/2.
Deepti Sharma to Hasini Perera, FOUR! Easy pickings! Too short and enough width for Perera to work with. Hasini stands tall and cuts it past point for a boundary.
Deepti Sharma to Imesha Dulani, Amanjot Kaur lost it in the lights! Floated up, on middle. Imesha Dulani steps out and has a heave across the line. Hits it flat towards deep mid-wicket, where Amanjot is unable to sight the ball and opts to collect it on the bounce. The batters cross for one.
Deepti Sharma to Hasini Perera, Tossed up, full and on middle, flicked through mid-wicket for one more.
Deepti Sharma to Imesha Dulani, Fired right across the right-hander, full in length, Imesha steps out and knocks it in front of mid off for a quick single.
Deepti Sharma to Imesha Dulani, FOUR! Too straight and it gets the treatment! From around the wicket, full and on the pads. Dulani gets down on a knee and sweeps it behind square on the leg side for a boundary.
- Imesha Dulani 21 (15)
- Hasini Perera 11 (10)
Sneh Rana to Imesha Dulani, Tossed up at the stumps, this is eased down to long on for just a single.
Sneh Rana to Imesha Dulani, Rana sees the batter advancing and drags the length right back. Dulani adjusts and blocks it off.
Sneh Rana to Hasini Perera, Tossed up again, around leg, Perera sweeps it away through square leg for a single.
Sneh Rana to Imesha Dulani, Tossed up on middle and leg, Dulani comes forward and drives it down to long on for a single.
Sneh Rana to Imesha Dulani, A huge appeal for LBW and that looked pretty plumb but the umpire turns it down. Harmanpreet Kaur has a chat with the bowler and the keeper and the Indian camp feels like there was some bat involved and opts against the review. The replays suggest that the ball flicked both pads and probably this should have been reviewed. Coming to the delivery, it was flighted up on middle and leg, Imesha Dulani went for the sweep again and missed, getting hit on the pads. The Ball Tracking comes as umpire's call with the ball clipping the leg stump, so the decision would have been upheld even if India had reviewed it.
Sneh Rana to Imesha Dulani, FOUR! The boundaries are now flowing thick and fast for Sri Lanka Women. Sneh Rana begins with a flighted ball on leg stump, Dulani sits down and sweeps it behind square leg and the ball races away to the vacant fence behind.
- Hasini Perera 10 (9)
- Imesha Dulani 15 (10)
Arundhati Reddy to Hasini Perera, FOUR! Nicely played. Length ball outside off, Hasini Perera pre-empts a bit and moves to the off side and shovels it nicely through backward square leg for a boundary. 11 off this over, 21 in the last 2 overs.
Arundhati Reddy to Imesha Dulani, Hard length on off, nips back in a bit. Dulani rocks back and hits it to the right of deep mid-wicket for a single. The batters look for the second run but Amanjot Kaur gets to the ball in a flash.
Arundhati Reddy to Imesha Dulani, Pitched up wide outside off, Dulani gets across to the off side and looks to drive but gets an inside edge instead.
Arundhati Reddy to Imesha Dulani, FOUR! Too much width on offer from Reddy. Fractionally short and well outside off, Imesha Dulani throws her hands at it and cuts it through backward point for a boundary.
Arundhati Reddy to Hasini Perera, Pitched up a bit fuller and well outside off, Hasini Perera walks right across the off stump and smacks it down to deep mid-wicket for one more.
Arundhati Reddy to Imesha Dulani, On a good length and on middle and leg, Dulani works it with gentle hands and wide of square leg for a single.
- Imesha Dulani 9 (6)
- Hasini Perera 5 (7)
Deepti Sharma to Imesha Dulani, Flatter one angled across off, Dulani plays a half-pull behind square leg and picks up a single. 10 off that over.
Deepti Sharma to Imesha Dulani, Deepti comes around the wicket now and lobs this one full on the pads. Dulani fails to flick it away.
Deepti Sharma to Imesha Dulani, FOUR! Quicker one, darted full and on leg stump, Imesha Dulani gets inside the line to sweep and gets it off the toe end of the blade towards fine leg for another boundary.
Deepti Sharma to Imesha Dulani, FOUR! That's a good hit from Dulani. Tossed up around off, Imesha Dulani comes down the pitch, holds her shape and whacks it wide to the right of long on for a boundary.
Deepti Sharma to Imesha Dulani, Flatter trajectory, lands it around middle, Dulani is rushed and jams it out to mid on.
Deepti Sharma to Hasini Perera, On a shortish length and on leg, this is picked up and jabbed down to cow corner for a single.
- Imesha Dulani 0 (1)
- Hasini Perera 4 (6)
Arundhati Reddy to Imesha Dulani, Back of a length and outside off, hit away off the back foot but Imesha Dulani can't quite find the gap through the cover region.
Arundhati Reddy to Imesha Dulani, Wide! Length ball angled down leg for a wide.
Imesha Dulani walks out to bat.
Arundhati Reddy to Chamari Athapaththu, OUT! CAUGHT! Excellent catch from Deepti Sharma and Chamari Athapaththu cannot believe her luck. Just before this ball, Deepti went from gully to extra cover and that's exactly where the ball went. Arundhati Reddy goes fuller now and stays wide outside off. Athapaththu laces the cover drive but hits it slightly above the ground. Sharma puts in a full-stretch dive to her right and snaffles it with both hands.
Arundhati Reddy to Hasini Perera, Hard length wide outside off, Hasini Perera throws her hands at it and slashes it away uppishly to deep point for one more.
Arundhati Reddy to Hasini Perera, Full again and outside off, driven sweetly but straight to covers.
Arundhati Reddy to Chamari Athapaththu, Fuller in length and outside off, Chamari Athapaththu goes after the width on offer and slices it high over point. Harleen Deol at sweeper cover runs to her right and keeps it down to a single.
Arundhati Reddy to Hasini Perera, On a good length and wide outside off, driven to deep cover for a single by Perera.
Arundhati Reddy to Hasini Perera, Wide! Starts with a full ball wide of the off stump and gets it to shape further away. Hasini Perera reaches out to drive but misses.
It will be pace from the other end. Here's Arundhati Reddy.
- Hasini Perera 2 (3)
- Chamari Athapaththu 1 (3)
Deepti Sharma to Hasini Perera, Floated up, full and around leg, Perera leans on and clips it through square leg for one more. Just 3 off the first over, tidy start for Deepti Sharma.
Deepti Sharma to Chamari Athapaththu, On a length and on the pads, nudged away wide of square leg for a quick single by Athapaththu.
Deepti Sharma to Chamari Athapaththu, Tossed up, on a fullish length and around off, Athapaththu leans on and pushes it on the up but Sneh Rana makes a good diving stop to her left.
Deepti Sharma to Chamari Athapaththu, Deepti switches to around the wicket now and drifts it into middle and leg. Chamari Athapaththu gets across and blocks it down the line.
Deepti Sharma to Hasini Perera, Drags the length back, bowling it around leg again, Hasini Perera tucks it away in front of mid-wicket and gets off the mark with a single.
Deepti Sharma to Hasini Perera, Tossed up on the pads, Hasini Perera looks to clip it away but misses and gets struck on the pads. A muted appeal for LBW but it has probably pitched outside leg.
Welcome back for the second essay. Harmanpreet Kaur leads her troops out onto the park. It will be the left-handed duo of Hasini Perera and Chamari Athapaththu. India are starting with spin in the form of Deepti Sharma. Perera to face the first ball. Surprisingly, no slip in place. Let's play...
... THE RUN CHASE ...
India will be happy to have got up to 175, considering the position they were in. With dew around, it will not be easy to defend this total. Sri Lanka made a good fist of the daunting chase last time around, but this is a different surface, and it will be about adapting as quickly as they can. Back in a bit for the Lankan reply.
Sri Lanka were able to chip away at the wickets outside of the Powerplay but Harmanpreet Kaur held her end up pretty nicely, with the use of the feet being the key to her success. She worked the ball around before changing gears and it was her 61-run stand with Amanjot Kaur that gave some much-needed impetus to the Indian innings. Both Kaurs fell going into the death phase, but the Sri Lankan pacers could not quite nail their deliveries towards the end, and Arundhati Reddy made merry with 42 runs coming off the last 2 overs.
However, beneath the emphatic scorelines lay a recurring concern: poor fielding. Despite controlling matches, India repeatedly faltered in basic catching and ground work, allowing simple chances to slip through.
Several regulation catches were dropped across the series, including glaring errors in the fourth T20I by senior players. Five catches went down in the series opener alone, setting a trend that continued throughout. While these mistakes did not affect the results due to India’s superior batting depth and disciplined bowling, they raised questions about urgency and standards.
Wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh acknowledged the lapse, calling it an off day while stressing the team’s ongoing efforts to improve. Head coach Amol Muzumdar will view the series as one of dominance mixed with lessons.
As India look ahead to tougher opposition and the upcoming T20 World Cup, sharpening fielding standards will be crucial. Against stronger teams, such errors could prove costly.
Match Statistics
Venue
Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram
