India v Sri Lanka, 1st T20I: Deepak Hooda said that he and Axar Patel told each other that it was just a matter of 2-3 hits to get some momentum. India beat Sri Lanka by 2 runs on Tuesday.
In Short
- Hooda said he wants to contribute in every manner
- Hooda and Axar added 68 runs in last 5 overs
- India beat Sri Lanka by 2 runs in final over drama
PosterGuy: Deepak Hooda and Axar Patel came to India’s rescue, lifting the hosts to a respectable total in the first T20I against Sri Lanka.
Hooda and Axar’s late hitting took India to 162/5 against the Asian champions Sri Lanka at the Wankhede stadium on Tuesday. The duo added 68 runs in the last five overs to give the bowlers something to defend. While Hooda remained unbeaten on 41* off 23, Axar scored 31* off 20.
When asked about his role at number six, Hooda said: “I try my best to practice according to the number I bat. We (He and Axar) were discussing it is a matter of 2-3 hits and that we will get with some momentum.
“I want to contribute in every manner. I am coming on the back of domestic cricket and know how to target the spinners.”
India beat Sri Lanka by two runs in the final-over thriller to take an early lead in the series. With 13 runs needed off the final over, the equation came down to five required from three as Axar conceded a six.
Axar bowled a dot ball before he and Hooda completed a run out on the fifth ball. With four needed off the last ball, Hooda and Ishan Kishan pulled off a run out to hand India an early lead.
India T20I captain Hardik Pandya credited the young players for getting the hosts back into the match.
“We might lose a game here and there but it is alright. It is the young guys who got us back into the game,” Pandya said after the match.
“Bilaterals, we are very good at and this is how we are going to challenge ourselves. To be honest, all the young guns got us out of the situation today. The conversation was very simple, I have seen him,” he added.
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