Mavi steals the show

PTI

Mumbai, January 3

Shivam Mavi made a dream debut with a relentless display of fast bowling as his four-wicket haul made the difference in India’s narrow two-run win over a spirited Sri Lanka in the first T20I here today.

India’s batters found the Sri Lankan spinners hard to put away before Deepak Hooda (41 not out off 23) and Axar Patel (31 not out off 20) took the hosts to 162/5.

Sri Lanka surely had the firepower to chase down 163 but Mavi’s strikes at the start and the back end of the innings tilted the game in favour of the home team. The game went down to the wire with spinner Axar Patel managing to defend 13 runs in the final over. Mavi ended with envious figures of 4/22 in four overs.

The fighting knocks from skipper Dasun Shanaka (45 off 27) and Chamika Karunaratne (23 not out off 16) went in vain as Sri Lanka ended at 160 all out in 20 overs. This was the lowest total India defended at the stadium.

Skipper Hardik Pandya decided to bowl the first over and the pressure created by him helped Mavi at the other end. Hardik bowled full tilt and hardly gave anything away, conceding only 12 runs in his three-over spell.

Mavi’s moment to cherish came in his first over as he showed remarkable composure to strike back after being hit for two fours by Kusal Mendis. Pathum Nissanka had no clue as Mavi’s delivery jagged back to shatter the stumps.

Earlier, Hooda and Axar shared an unbeaten 68-run stand off 38 balls for the sixth wicket after India found themselves at a shaky 94/5.

Brief scores: India: 162/5 (Hooda 41*, Kishan 37, Axar 31*; Hasaranga 1/22); Sri Lanka: 160 all out in 20 overs (Shanaka 45, Kusal 28; Mavi 4/22, Umran 2/27, Harshal 2/41). — PTI

I was waiting for this moment for the last six years. Had injuries in between and it felt my dream will never come true. Nerves were 3-4 on a scale of 10 because you know what to expect when you have played the IPL. The first wicket was my favouriteRs Shivam Mavi

I try to practise for every position and try to give my best at every position. We knew if we got the momentum on our side, we would reach 160 — Deepak Hooda, player of the match

I have seen him (Mavi) 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.’ — Hardik Pandya, india captain

Really disappointed with the way we finished, it was a game we should have won. At Wankhede, the batters need to cross the line easily when you are chasing 163 — Dasun Shanaka, Sri lanka captain

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