1st T20I: Mavi claims four-fer on debut as India beat Sri Lanka by two runs

Young medium pacer Shivam Mavi claimed 422 on debut as India defended a modest total of 162 to beat Sri Lanka by two runs in the thrilling first T20I and take 10 lead in the threematch series at the Wankhede Stadium here on TuesdayIndia started 2023 with victory thanks to some good bowling by Mavi Harshal Patel and Umran Malik as they prevailed over Sri Lanka in a lastball thrillerWith a modest 162 to defend India needed to get early wickets to put Sri Lanka under pressure and they did just that eventually getting them all out for 160 in 20 oversShivam Mavi claimed two wickets in his first spell in his debut match Harshal Patel bagged another two and Umran Malik took one as India sent back five Sri Lankan batters for 68 runs Sri Lanka skipper Shanaka and Wanindu Hasaranga added 40 runs for the sixth wicket but just when they were looking like taking the match away Mavi broke their partnership by sending back HasarangaHardik Pandya claimed a fine catch coming back to the field after going out for treatment struck by a bout of cramps while taking a catch to send back Bhanuka Rajapaksa as Sri Lanka slumped to 1086 in the 15th overBut Shanaka was still the dangerman and he struck some lusty blows to take Sri Lanka to 34 needed off 20 balls hitting Harshal Patel to a six and four in the 16th over He meted out the same treatment to Umran Mailk in the next over but the young pacer had the last laugh when he had the Sri Lanka captain caught in the deep by Chahal in the same over to sink the last nail in the Sri Lankan coffinHowever there was one final twist remaining in the match as Chamika Karunaratne blasted a couple of sixes to take Sri Lanka to the final over needing 13 runs Axar Patel bowled a wide and was carted for a six by Karunaratne before Kasun Rajitha was run out off the fifth ball going for a second runSri Lanka needed four runs off the final delivery but Karunaratne could not hit him out and Dilshan Madushanka was run out attempting a second run as India won by three runs Mavi had made it possible for India as he completed his fourfer when he sent back Maheesh Theekshana for one caught by Suryakumar Yadav at longoff with a length ball outside offAlso ReadIndia vs Sri Lanka Visitors win toss elect to bowl firstMavi provided India with the breakthrough in his first over by claiming his first T20I wicket on debut The young bowler showed great character as he struck after being hit for backtoback boundaries by Kusal Mendis in his first over Mavi came back strongly in his second over and sent back Nissanka sending one through the game to rattle the stumpsDhananjaya de Silva was his second victim when he got the batter to spoon a catch to Sanju Samson with a slower oneEarlier Deepak Hooda and Axar Patel came together to raise a quickfire halfcentury partnership in fine rearguard action as India managed to reach 1625 in 20 overs after being put in to bat by Sri Lanka skipper Dasun Shanaka who won the tossHooda hammered 41 not out off 23 deliveries hitting one boundary and four sixes while Patel struck 31 not out off 20 balls three fours and one six as India recovered from a precarious 945 in the 15th over to post a decent totalBrief scoresIndia 1625 in 20 overs Deepak Hooda 41 not out Axar Patel 31 not out Ishan Kishan 37 Hardik Pandya 29 Chamika Karunaratne122 Maheesh Theekshana 129 defeated Sri Lanka 160 all out in 20 overs Dasun Shanka 45 Chamika Karunaratne 23 not out Shivam Mavi 422 Harshal Patel 241 Umran Malik 227 by two runsThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever