The medium pacer picked up two quick wickets and returned the best figures for an Indian bowler in the third and final T20I.
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India medium pacer Avesh Khan displayed brilliant bowling performance to restrict Sri Lanka to 146/6 despite a late fight back from Dasun Shanaka (74 not out) in the third and final T20I at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamsala on Sunday. India currently lead the three-match series 2-0. Opting to bat, Sri Lanka lost their openers Pathum Nissanka (1) and Danushka Gunathilaka (0) in the first-two consecutive overs to Khan and Mohammed Siraj respectively. Incoming batters Charith Asalanka (4) was given no time to settle in as he became the second victim for Khan while Janith Liyanage (9) also followed the suit without adding much to the visitors’ score tally.
However, senior wicket keeper-batter Dinesh Chandimal (25) and Shanaka, restored the sinking ship for Sri Lanka as they rescued them from 29/4 to 60/5 before the former fell prey to Harshal Patel.
Unperturbed by the dismissal, Shanaka continued his onslaught, to help the visitors reach a decent total. His prolific knock off 38 deliveries consisted of nine boundaries and two hits over the top.
Chamika Karunaratne, meanwhile, remained unbeaten on 12 runs off 19 deliveries.
READ MORE: IND vs SL: India win second T20I comfortably to build unassailable 2-0 series lead
Khan returned the best bowling figures for an Indian bowler — 2/23 — but the penultimate over of the match cost 19 runs. It destroyed his tight economy rate from the first three overs.
Fast bowler Siraj, Harshal Patel and young spinner Ravi Bishnoi scalped a wicket each but wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav found himself in a spot of bother as he gave away 25 runs in his stipulated four overs without getting a sight of the wicket.
India, however, remains well on course to record another clean sweep.
