highlights
India beat Sri Lanka by 2 runs in the first T20
Akshar Patel overturned the losing game in the last over
new Delhi. India defeated Sri Lanka by 2 runs in the first T20 match till the last ball. In the last 3 balls, this match seemed to be going in the favor of Sri Lanka. The visiting country needed 5 runs to win. But, Akshar Patel did not lose his temper and lived up to the faith of Captain Hardik. He did not allow Sri Lanka to score 5 runs in 3 balls. Sri Lanka lost two wickets on the last two balls. Both the batsmen were run out. In this way Akshar overturned the lost game. Even though Akshar snatched the victory from the mouth of Sri Lanka. But, in this victory, Hardik’s decision to bowl the last over with Akshar also played an important role.
Sri Lanka needed 13 runs in the last over in the first T20 and its 8 wickets had fallen. In such a situation, there seemed to be a possibility of India’s victory. But, Chamika Karunaratne was present at the crease, who had pulled the team out of such situations before. In such a situation, it is not right to assume that Sri Lanka will give up easily. It happened exactly the same. Hardik had a dilemma that with whom to get the last over. Because Shivam Mavi and Harshal Patel had bowled their 4-4 overs.
In such a situation, Hardik played a big bet and handed the ball to Akshar Patel. Akshar proved to be expensive in the first 2 overs. He had given 21 runs. Despite this, Hardik gave the last over expressing confidence in him.
Patel bowled the first ball wide and Ranjita took a single on the next ball. On the third ball of the over, Karunaratne increased India’s heart rate by hitting a six. After this ball, there was a long talk between Ishaan Kishan, Pandya and Patel and only after that the match turned. After the last 3 balls, Sri Lanka needed 5 runs to win. The fourth ball was a dot. Ranjita was run out on the 5th ball. After this wicket, Sri Lanka needed 4 runs on the last ball to win. A boundary would have snatched the match from India’s hands. Karunaratne was on strike and could finish the match with a big shot.
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On the last ball, Akshar dashed Karunaratne’s hopes. He could not hit the boundary. He played the shot towards the midwicket and ran to take the run. Completed one run, but Dilshan Madhushanka was run out in the second run attempt and Sri Lanka’s entire innings was reduced to 160 runs.
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Tags: axar patel, Hardik Pandya, india vs sri lanka, team india
FIRST PUBLISHED : January 04, 2023, 07:34 IST