Sent to bat, India recovered from a top-notch collapse to post a competitive 162-for-five on the unbeaten 68-run stand for the sixth wicket between Deepak Hooda (41 off 23 balls) and Axar Patel (31 * off 20).
It happened: India vs Sri Lanka, 1st T20I
In response, Sri Lanka were knocked out for 160 in 20 overs with youngster Mavi taking four wickets. Mavi returned numbers of 4 for 22 and was well supported by her fellow pacers Omran Malik (2 for 27) and Harshal Patel (2 for 41).
Hooda was named Man of the Match for his unbeaten 41 which took India to a tie. The Indian batters found the Sri Lankan spinners difficult to put away before Hooda and Axar got to the middle.
That’s it from 1st T20I.#TeamIndia wins by 2 points and takes a 1-0 lead in the series.Scorecard -… https://t.co/hUlRgwlNEP
— BCCI (@BCCI) 1672766748000
The Sri Lankans surely had the firepower to chase down 163 but Mavi’s strikes to the front and back of the innings tipped the game in favor of the home side. The game went to the wire with spinner Axar managing to defend 13 points in the final.
The fights hit from the skipper Dasun Shanaka (45 of 27) and Chamika Karunaratne (23 not of 16) went in vain for the visitors in the end.
This is the lowest total defended by India in this stadium.
Skipper Hardik Pandya decided to pitch first and the pressure created by him helped newbie Mavi to the other end. Hardik played hard and gave next to nothing, giving up just 12 points in his three-man period.
Deepak Hooda is named player of the match for his fine innings of 41* from 23 deliveries as #TeamIndia wins by 2 r… https://t.co/v0IyqHd0yv
— BCCI (@BCCI) 1672767530000
Mavi’s moment to cherish came in her opening round as she showed remarkable composure to fight back after being knocked out for two fours by Kusal Mendis. Having already had a life in the first Hardik, Pathum Nissanka had no idea how beautiful Mavi was of a delivery that shredded to break stumps.
Also in his second game, Mavi was hit for a couple of fours before catching Dhanajaya de Silva halfway through.
It became 47 for three in the eighth when Ishan Kishan took a brilliant running catch to the back after Charith Asalanka mistimed an Umran Malik takedown.
Pacer Harshal was lucky with his first wicket as a dangerous looking Mendis found the fielder before getting rid of Bhanuka Rajapaksa with a slower ball, leaving Sri Lanka struggling at 68 for five in the 11th. Hardik had to leave the field briefly after taking hold of Rajapaksa.
Hasaranga and skipper Shanaka made the game interesting with a quick 40 point backing, on 23 balls. Hasaranga put the pressure back on the Indians by crushing Yuzvendra Chahal for the back-to-back six over the average wicket, reducing the equation to a very accessible 56 runs on 36 balls.
Mavi was brought back to break the threatening partnership and he did so by having Hasaranga caught halfway. Shanaka kept Sri Lanka in the game on his own before falling to Umran in the 17th.
The match somehow went all the way with Chamika Karunratne offering a glimmer of hope to the visitors. With Hardik unable to throw his fourth after falling down the field, Axar was called up to defend 13 in the final.
Earlier, Hooda and Axar shared an unbeaten 68 from 38 balls for the sixth wicket after India found themselves 94 for five at Wankhede Stadium.
Playing his first international sets since the double hundred in Bangladesh, Kishan (37 of 29) went ballistic in the first on himself which gave up 17 runs.
Looking for a swing, right arm pacer Kasun Rajitha tossed it and Kishan was quick to swing it over the deep square leg for a huge six. Then a slower ball was hit on the ground for four before Kishan fired Rajitha for another boundary.
Shubman Gill (7), who made her T20 debut alongside Mavi, started her innings with a delightful cover from Dilshan Madushanka.
Shanaka introduced the spin in the third via Maheesh Theekshana and he delivered with the wicket of Gill who missed a straight over from the mysterious spinner to be trapped in front of the stumps. Hoping against hope, Gill wasted a review in the process.
India’s top T20 batsman Suryakumar Yadav (7) also perished on the cheap, leaving the hosts at 41 for two on the power play. Playing his first match in front of his home crowd, Surya attempted his usual scoop shot but missed to be caught short-legged by Bhanuka Rajapaksa off Chamika Karunaratne.
Sanum Samson (5) squandered another chance by missing a slog from Dhananjaya de Silva.
Spinners stemmed the flow of runs in the middle overs, India collecting just 26 in overs 10-15 with the loss of Kishan and skipper Hardik Pandya (29 of 27), who couldn’t find his range after starting with a few exquisite strokes. on the opposite side.
Coming in at number six, Hooda attempted to turn the tide of innings with a straight six off Theekshana’s deep midwicket. He targeted the same area against Hasaranga in the next one, laying him down for max. He had good support from Axar as the duo helped India to total fights.
India and Sri Lanka will play the second match of the series on Thursday in Pune.
(With PTI entries)
