Twitter Goes Berserk As Sri Lanka Seal Series After Wanindu Hasaranga's Memorable Spell Of Bowling

Sri Lanka stunned India in the third and final T20I, clinching the series by a massive margin of seven wickets. Though India’s depleted batting line-up from the last two T20Is have helped the hosts’ bowling line-up, the youngsters’ struggles against spin have been mind-boggling. Wanindu Hasaranga, who picked only one wicket in the last game, sizzled on his birthday, delivering a performance to remember.

Also Read: Watch: Wanindu Hasaranga Leaves India Reeling With Two Wickets In His First Over

Indian captain Shikhar Dhawan, after choosing to bat first, fell in the first over for a golden duck. Ramesh Mendis followed Dushmantha Chameera’s footsteps to dismiss Devdutt Padikkal for a woeful 15-ball 9. Wanindu Hasaranga came to bowl his first in the fifth over itself, piercing through the batting line-up. The leg-spinner struck twice to remove Sanju Samson for a duck and Ruturaj Gaikwad, who was the only one to reach double figures amongst the top five.

The visitors kept losing wickets, thanks to Hasaranga’s penetrative bowling and some stunning fielding efforts from captain Dasun Shanaka. Dasun Shanaka also claimed two wickets using his aggressive medium bowling. The men in blue, fortunately, crossed their lowest T20 total of 74 and eventually ended at 81-8 in 20 overs. Chinaman spinner Kuldeep Yadav, with 23, was the top scorer for India, with Hasaranga finishing with figures of 4-0-9-4.

While Sri Lanka’s run rate remained low and some terrific bowling from Rahul Chahar and Varun Chakravarthy made life difficult for him, the middle-order steered the run-chase calmly. Dhananjaya de Silva, man of the match from the second T20I, battled and adapted well in the challenging conditions to deny India a comeback. Hasaranga, after tormenting India, took Sri Lanka home, along with De Silva. It proved to be Sri Lanka’s first bilateral series win over India since 2008.

Here’s how Twitter reacted to Sri Lanka’s demolishing win against India in the third and final T20I:

India lost the T20I series against Sri Lanka.

The last time before today India lost any bilateral series against Sri Lanka in any format was in 2008. (Test series)#<!---->S<!---->L<!---->v<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D

— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->2<!---->9<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

Congratulations @<!---->O<!---->f<!---->f<!---->i<!---->c<!---->i<!---->a<!---->l<!---->S<!---->L<!---->C on a special series win. Hope they turn a corner now. World cricket is stronger with a strong SL side. And Hasaranga is a star???? #<!---->S<!---->L<!---->v<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->e<!---->a<!---->p<!---->P<!---->H<!---->u<!---->9<!---->s<!---->Q<!---->p

— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->2<!---->9<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

India (81/8) would not have reached 100 even if 18% GST/VAT added to their total in final T20I against Sri Lanka. #<!---->C<!---->r<!---->i<!---->c<!---->k<!---->e<!---->t

— Daniel Alexander (@daniel86cricket) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->2<!---->9<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

It’s been a long wait for a series win #<!---->S<!---->L<!---->v<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D We will take it with both hands ? Now build on the smiles … we’ll done lads ??

— Russel Arnold (@RusselArnold69) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->2<!---->9<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

Sanju Samson has been a real disappointment this series. Can’t complain about batting position/opportunities anymore.The Indian team is bloody tough these days. Got to make the most of every opportunity, and Suryakumar Yadav has shown that. Already ahead of Samson now IMO #<!---->S<!---->L<!---->v<!---->I<!---->n<!---->d

— Raunak Kapoor (@RaunakRK) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->2<!---->9<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

T20I Career best 4-0-9-4 bowling figures for Wanindu Hasaranga on his 24th birthday, LBW with three reds not given in his 3rd over. Incredible spell from World's No.2 and Asia's highest ranked T20I bowler. World class all rounder! ?? #<!---->C<!---->r<!---->i<!---->c<!---->k<!---->e<!---->t

— Daniel Alexander (@daniel86cricket) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->2<!---->9<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

https://twitter.com/tyrion_jon_/status/1420767022892208129?s=20

https://twitter.com/its_valimai/status/1420766590417575936?s=20

Couldn't have got off to a worse start. With such little batting, India needed more assurance and solidity at the top.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->2<!---->9<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

India's 6 & 7 were just hanging in there. Tells you how dire things are

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->2<!---->9<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

If you are a decent Indian bowler who bats, send in your application.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->2<!---->9<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

Shikhar Dhawan becomes the first Indian captain to register a golden duck in T20Is.#<!---->S<!---->L<!---->v<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D #<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D<!---->v<!---->s<!---->S<!---->L #<!---->I<!---->n<!---->d<!---->v<!---->S<!---->L

— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->2<!---->9<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

kuldeep thought this trip would help revive his bowling career, wouldn't have thought he'd be needed to bat at 7! #<!---->S<!---->L<!---->v<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D

— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->2<!---->9<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

Sanju Samson vs spin since his comeback last year
Seven innings
45 balls
51 runs
Six outs (Hasaranga 3, Swepson 2, Dananjaya 1)

Credit to SL, since his first ball dismissal to Hasaranga in the 1st T20I, Samson only faced spin in his further 16 balls in the series.#<!---->S<!---->L<!---->v<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D

— Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->2<!---->9<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

No excuses. If you belong, you show you do #<!---->I<!---->n<!---->d<!---->v<!---->s<!---->S<!---->L

— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->2<!---->9<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

Best T20I figures on birthday

4/9 W Hasaranga v Ind Colombo (29 Jul 2021) *
4/21 Imran Tahir v Net Chittagong (27 Mar 2014)
3/23 Yuvraj v SL Mohali (12 Dec 2009)

* Full Member teams only #<!---->S<!---->L<!---->v<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D

— Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->2<!---->9<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1