DHARAMSALA: India pacer Avesh Khan said that the wicket was supporting the bowlers during the third and final T20I of the three-match series against Sri Lanka on Sunday here at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamshala.
India won the final T20I by six wickets to sweep the series 3-0. For the hosts, Shreyas Iyer once again starred with the bat, scoring an unbeaten 73 as the host chased down the winning target of 147 in 16.5 overs.
"The wicket was supporting the bowlers, the plan was to just bowl proper line and length. The popping crease was slippery the other day (on why he struggled in the 3rd T20I against West Indies). Here, I just needed to be disciplined," said Khan in a post-match presentation.
Earlier, Indian bowlers restricted Sri Lanka to the score of 146/5 in the 20 overs. For Sri Lanka, Dasun Shanaka again played a captain's knock of 74 not out and took the visitors to a respectable total, while Dinesh Chandimal scored 25.
Khan scalped two wickets, while Mohammed Siraj, Harshal Patel, and Ravi Bishnoi grabbed one apiece.
India never found themselves in trouble while chasing the underwhelming target of 146. Shreyas trumped the chase with 73 not out off 45 balls - his third successive half-century. The hosts dominated from the word go and chased down the target with 19 balls to spare.
'Plan was to give Bishnoi, Kuldeep some match practice'
All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja explained why he did not bowl in the third and final T20I of the series.
Ravi Bishnoi and Kuldeep Yadav bowled their full quota of four overs, but Jadeja wasn't asked to bowl a single over on Sunday.
"The plan was to give Bishnoi and Kuldeep some match practice today, that's the reason I didn't bowl," Jadeja said after the 3rd T20I.
Jadeja made his return to international cricket with the Sri Lanka series and impressed one and all, especially with the bat in hand.
"I have worked hard at the NCA (National Cricket Academy). The trainers there were helpful. That was my preparation for the T20Is and the upcoming Tests," he said.
