India edged Sri Lanka by two runs in the opening Twenty20 international on Tuesday, thanks in large part to the four wickets taken by debutant fast bowler Shivam Mavi. He contributed 4-22 in order to help the home team bowl out Sri Lanka for 160 in response to a 163-run victory target and take a 1-0 series lead. With two wickets each, fellow pace bowlers Umran Malik and Harshal Patel provided the 24-year-old Mavi with excellent support.
Left-arm spinner Axar Patel kept his composure in the crucial final over when Sri Lanka needed 13 runs to win and Chamika Karunaratne scared India with his unbeaten 23. The final over began with a wide and ended with two run-outs, leaving Karunaratne devastated and India ecstatic. Read More: Who are the 20 Players BCCI has shortlisted for the World Cup 2024?
Shivam Mavi shines on Debut
Mavi was praised by Hardik Pandya, who led India for the first time at home: “I have seen him bowling well in the IPL and I just told him to simply bowl. “I told him, ‘I am backing you. Even if you get hit, it’s fine.”
Shivam Mavi said: “I was waiting for this moment for the last six years. Had injuries in between and it felt like my dream would never come true.”
India held its nerve till the end
After the visitors asked India to bat, Ishan Kishan came out swinging, hitting Kasun Rajitha for six and two fours in a 17-run opening over. India scored 26 runs in the first two overs, but the momentum slowed after losing their top and middle order. Hooda, who hit four sixes in his 23-ball innings and was named man of the match, and the left-handed Axar then took control.
Shubman Gill got off to a boundary start before getting bowled by unknown spinner Maheesh Theekshana for seven. Suryakumar Yadav was returned by Karunaratne after the batsman mistimed one of his daring scoop shots and was caught at short fine leg as Sri Lanka responded with disciplined bowling. Read More: Arshdeep Singh becomes the only Indian Player in Latest ICC Men’s Emerging Cricketer of the Year Nominations
When wrist spinner Wanindu Hasaranga dismissed left-handed Kishan for 37, India lost two more wickets and was down to 77-4. Dilshan Madushanka, a left-arm quick, made the opposition’s batting even worse by having Pandya caught behind for 29.
India’s fierce blowing lineup saves the day
Pathum Nissanka was bowled for one in Mavi’s first over of international cricket. Dhananjaya de Silva was then sent back for eight in his subsequent pitch, giving India the lead. With Harshal scoring twice to leave Sri Lanka on 68-5, and tearaway quick Umran taking out Charith Asalanka for 12 as well, Sri Lanka continued to lose wickets. With his medium-pace bowling, Harshal ended Kusal Mendis’ innings at 28 and then dismissed the dangerous Bhanuka Rajapaksa for 10.
Hasaranga and the captain Dasun Shanaka made an effort to restart the chase by putting together a 40-run partnership, but Mavi broke the partnership by dismissing Hasaranga for 21. The attack was maintained by Shanaka, who scored 45 and hit Umran for a six in the 17th over. However, the speedster got his revenge two balls later, further lowering Sri Lanka’s hopes. Finally, India managed to hold bowl out Sri Lanka for 160 runs in 20 overs, clinching the win just by 2 runs.
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