IND vs SL: 1st T20I Review – India clinch a thriller despite SL’s late heroics
India made a winning start at Wankhede Stadium in a last-over thriller against Sri Lanka. The visitors failed to go past the Indian all-rounders, who racked up a decent total in the first innings. Earlier, Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bowl first. Ishan Kishan and Shubman Gill provided India with a dream start, as the former notched up quick-fire runs in the very first over, but Gill’s early wicket slowed down India’s momentum.
Suryakumar Yadav and Sanju Samson could not leave a mark in the game with the bat and were dismissed cheaply by Chamika Karunaratne and Dhananjaya de Silva respectively. Skipper Hardik Pandya and Ishan Kishan continued to bat and kept scoring runs, but lacked consistency. Just when the visitors thought they had the game under control, Deepak Hooda and Axar Patel charged up India’s innings.
The duo partnered for the sixth wicket and shared an unbeaten 68-run stand within just 36 deliveries. Thanks to their carnage, India managed to post a 163-run target. India started off the second innings really well as debutant Shivam Mavi picked up two wickets in his first two overs. By the end of 10 overs, Sri Lanka had lost four wickets, and they lost their fifth batter soon in the 11th over.
Sri Lanka claw back
But Sri Lankan all-rounders Wanindu Hasaranga and skipper Dasun Shanaka put up an equally tough fight to keep their side in the game. Shanaka walked off scoring a 27-ball 45 before being dismissed by Umran Malik. But Mavi was the star of the show as he added two more wickets to his name and finished off with four wickets on debut.
It was a thrilling contest as the game came down to the final over, where the visitors required 13 runs to win. Axar Patel was handed the job to defend the runs. The last over saw all the drama, which included the Sri Lankan batters hitting a six, getting a no-ball, Axar picking up a wicket, and also contributing to a run-out. The drama came to an end and India eventually restricted Sri Lanka so as to win the game by two runs.
Top Performers from the match:
Deepak Hooda:
After a string of poor outings for the Men in Blue, Hooda was finally able to prove his worth. He notched up an unbeaten 41 runs off 23 deliveries, including one four and four big sixes. He remained unbeaten till the end of the first innings. His fiery knock, alongside his partnership with Axar Patel, helped India reach a decent total.
Shivam Mavi:
The young debutant picked up four wickets in his maiden international outing and got India multiple breakthroughs in the game. He dismissed Pathum Nissanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Wanindu Hasaranga, and Maheesh Theekshana to register 4/22 in his four-overs spell.
What’s next for both teams?
India and Sri Lanka will face each other next at the MCA Stadium in Pune on Thursday, January 5, 2023.
