India Women Eye Clean Sweep as Sri Lanka Fight for Pride in Final T20I
The India women’s cricket team are heading into the fifth and final T20I against Sri Lanka with confidence sky-high and the series already wrapped up. After a dominant run, an unassailable 4–0 lead has been secured, and the final match now feels less like a decider and more like a chance to underline total supremacy. The match is set to be played on Tuesday, December 30, at the Greenfield Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram, with the first ball scheduled for 7:00 pm IST, while the toss will take place half an hour earlier.
India’s authority in the series was firmly stamped in the fourth T20I, where a commanding 30-run victory was registered. That win was built on a breathtaking opening partnership between Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma, a stand that completely took the game away from Sri Lanka. The pair piled on a massive 162 runs for the first wicket, setting the foundation for India’s highest-ever women’s T20I total of 221. Mandhana, after a relatively quiet start to the series, finally found her rhythm, while Verma continued her rich vein of form at the top.
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Once the target was set, the job was calmly finished by the Indian bowlers. Arundhati Reddy and Vaishnavi Sharma stepped up with the ball, picking up two wickets each, and Sri Lanka were eventually restricted to 191. Although the visitors showed fight in the chase, the required rate kept climbing, and the pressure was always felt.
With the series already sealed, changes are expected from the Indian camp in the final game. Squad rotation is likely to be seen, as bench strength could be tested and younger players may be given an opportunity under match conditions. Even so, the intensity is unlikely to drop, as the hosts will be keen to end the series on a perfect note in front of their home crowd.
For Sri Lanka, this final match carries a different kind of importance. Pride is on the line, and avoiding a 5–0 whitewash will be the primary motivation. There have been glimpses of promise throughout the series, particularly in the batting, but consistency has been missing at key moments. A strong performance in the final T20I would at least offer something positive to take away from a difficult tour.
Fans can watch the match live on the Star Sports Network, with streaming available on Jio Hotstar. As the lights come on in Thiruvananthapuram, all eyes will be on whether India can complete a clean sweep, or if Sri Lanka can finally push back and finish the series with a statement of their own.
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