ICC World Twenty20 final: First 6 overs

Sri Lanka kept things tight in the first six overs and managed to take the wicket of Ajinkya Rahane.

India's batsman Ajinkya Rahane, right, is bowled out by Sri Lanka's bowler Angelo Mathews. (AP)

India’s batsman Ajinkya Rahane (R) is bowled out by Sri Lanka’s bowler Angelo Mathews. (AP)

Kulasekara started the proceedings for Sri Lanka, as Ajinkya Rahane took strike. He kept things tight in the first over and didn’t allow the opening pair to freeze arms.

The second over was bowled by Anjelo Mathews and he got the breakthrough for Sri Lanka on his third ball. He castled Rahane, who was trying to hit him across the line, with a ball that came slow off the pitch and got caught in his thigh pads.

Kohli smashed a four off Kulasekara’s first ball off the next over. However, Kulasekara came back strongly and bowled a tight line to restrict Kohli for the rest of the over.

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Mathew’s next over wasn’t as dangerous as his first one, but he restricted the flow of runs and gave away just 4.

Malinga introduced Senanayake in the next over, who was struck for a glorious shot over deep square leg for a boundary off his second ball.

Ball no. 5 involved an absurd mix-up between Kohli and Rohit, which could have well resulted in a disastrous run out. Thankfully for India, the ball bounced a tad bit and the bowler couldn’t collect it in time.

The sixth over was bowled by captain Lasith Malinga himself, who gave four runs off his first four deliveries. Rohit broke the shackles by striking Malinga’s last ball of for a boundary.

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That ball raced away past the non-striker’s end and the fans erupted in the stands in unison to support the crafty Mumbai batsman.

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