Cricket-Mavi gets four debuts as India win first T20

(Reuters) Debutant fast bowler Shivam Mavi’s four-wicket haul guided India to a thrilling two-run victory over Sri Lanka in the first Twenty20 International of the three-match series on Tuesday.

At the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, India struggled to impose themselves until a 68-run partnership from the sixth over between Deepak Hooda (41) and Axar Patel (31) gave the hosts some much-needed momentum and pushed them level. a total of 162.

The visitors then got off to a disastrous start as Mavi struck early with the ball to remove Pathum Nissanka and Dhananjaya de Silva.

The 24-year-old Mavi later added the scalps of Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana to top off his dream debut.

Sri Lankan captain Dasun Shanaka put up some resistance, scoring 45 off 27, but his side could not build on the batting and fell just short of the target.

I have been waiting for this moment for the past six years. I had injuries in between and I felt like my dream would never come true, Mavi said.

The second T20I of the series will be held at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune on Wednesday.

(Reporting by Aadi Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Toby Davis)