MUMBAI: India’s speedster Shivam Mavi produced a scintillating performance with the ball on debut and powered his side to edge the Asian Champions by two runs in the first T20I here at Wankhede Stadium.
Set to chase 163, Sri Lanka fell just two runs short despite skipper Dasun Shanaka’s brisk 45 as spinner Axar Patel denied Asian Champions a victory by successfully defending 13 runs in the crisp last over.
The touring side had a deplorable start as they lost half of their side for just 68 runs in the 11th over in pursuit as Indian pacers Mavi and Umran Malik ran through their top order.
Following the slump, captain Shanaka took the responsibility and anchored the run chase by stitching a vital 40-run partnership with Wanindu Hasarange de Silva, who chipped in with a crucial 21-run cameo before falling to Mavi in the 15th over.
Shanaka then joined hands with Chamika Karunaratne and added a further 21 runs before the former perished. He top-scored for his side with a magnificent 45 off 27 deliveries, laced with three boundaries and as many sixes.
Shanaka’s dismissal saw Sri Lanka lose momentum in the run chase and the first T20I entered into the nerve-wracking final over.
Patel then displayed great grit to bar the Asian Champions from sailing through despite conceding a six on the third delivery and played a pivotal role in the hosts’ triumph.
The enthralling final over also witnessed two run-outs as the Sri Lankans looked desperate to steal the victory but fell short.
Mavi led the bowling attack for India in his debut as he returned with magnificent bowling figures of 4/22, while Malik and Harshal Patel bagged two wickets each.
Batting first, India managed to post 162/5 at the back of Deepak Hooda and Axar’s astounding sixth-wicket partnership as they added 58 runs in 35 deliveries.
Hooda remained the top-scorer for India with an unbeaten 41 off just 23 balls, while Axar scored 31 not out.
Besides the duo, young opening batter Ishan Kishan remained the notable run-getter with his cautious 37-run knock off 29 balls.
For Sri Lanka, Dilshan Madushanka, Maheesh Theekshana, Chamika Karunaratne, Dhananjaya de Silva and Hasarange de Silva made one scalp each.
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