Katunayake
Skipper Mithali Raj’s career-best knock of 125 not out went in vain as the Sri Lanka women shocked India women by three wickets in an inconsequential third and final ODI.

India had already sealed the series by winning the first two ODIs but in the third match they could not defend the total of 253/5, built around Raj’s unbeaten 125 and opener Smriti Mandhana’s 51.

The duo had shared a 102-run stand for the second wicket after young Jemimah Rodrigues (0) made an early exit. Mithali’s seventh ODI hundred, and first in 14 months, came off 143 balls with 14 fours and a six.

Sri Lanka skipper Chamari Attapattu’s century (115) and a gutsy 101-run stand with fellow opener Hasini Perera (45) set the tone for the chase. There were a few hiccups after the two batswomen returned to the pavilion as the Indian bowlers made inroads but tailender Kavisha Dilhari pushed her side to the finish line with one ball to spare.

Sri Lanka needed six runs from the final over. Kavisha smashed a four in the penultimate ball of the match off Deepti Sharma to earn a consolatory win for the hosts. Jhulan Goswami and Mansi Joshi took two wickets each. The five-match T20I series between the two teams will begin on Wednesday at the same venue.