Mithali Raj’s career-best knock not enough as India women lose 3rd ODI to Sri Lanka

India skipper Mithali Raj’s career-best knock of an unbeaten 125 wasn’t enough to power her side to a victory as Sri Lanka women defeated India by three wickets in the third and final ODI in Katunayake on Sunday.

India, who had earlier sealed the series after winning the first two matches, made 253 for five in 50 overs rallied by Raj’s unbeaten 125 and opener Smriti Mandhana’s 51. But their knocks wasn’t enough as Sri Lanka led by Captain Chamari Attapattu’s 115 won the match to seal a consolation victory.

The duo of Raj and Mandhana shared a 102-run partnership for the second wicket after young Jemimah Rodrigues was sent back for a duck, early into the innings. While, Mithali romped to her 7^th century and first in 14 months, Mandhana scored her 12th half-century.

Mithali’s hundred came off 143 balls and included 14 fours and a monstrous six to the boundary.

Their brilliance were however overpowered with an equally special partnership of 101-run between Attapattu’s and fellow opener Hasini Perera (45).

With them at the crease, Sri Lanka seemed to be cruising to a comfortable victory, but the Indian fast bowling duo of Jhulan Goswami and Mansi Joshi returned to take two wickets each ripping through the Lankan middle order to bring India back into the contest.

But number nine batswomen Kavisha Dilhari held her nerves, smashing spinner Deepti Sharma for a four in the penultimate delivery to seal the consolation victory for Sri Lanka. The Lankans needed six runs from the final over, but Dilhari ensured no hiccups with wonderful hitting prowess.

India, however, clinched the series 2-1 but will be disappointed to be missing out on an opportunity to clean-sweep the series.

The five-match Twenty20 series between the two teams will begin on Wednesday at the same venue.

Also Read: Asia Cup 2018: In Kohli’s absence, Rayudu looks up to ‘go-to-man’ MS Dhoni