New Zealand reach their highest home total against India, ۲۲۵-۴, but Sanju Samson hits fifty to top the record in chase.
Published On ۲۲ Oct ۲۰۲۶
India overcame a spirited New Zealand fightback after a blazing start to secure a thrilling four-wicket victory in Christchurch on Thursday and take a ۱-۰ lead in the five-match T۲۰ series.
India survived a mid-innings wobble in a ۲۲۶-run chase after openers Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma laid the platform, with Shreyas Iyer’s contribution reviving the chase and Naman Dhir applying the finishing touches to seal victory in ۱۹.۴ overs.
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“When they [the openers] click, they set up the game for us, and the rest of us try to steady the ship and finish,” India captain Iyer said. “He [Dhir] gives us lots of options. I personally feel the calm and composed nature he showed tonight, it was magnificent.”
Put in to bat, New Zealand made the most of favourable conditions as openers Tim Seifert and Finn Allen set the tone before Glenn Phillips produced a dazzling knock to propel the hosts to ۲۲۵-۴.
The total was New Zealand’s biggest T۲۰ score against India on home soil, but the visitors completed their highest-ever successful run chase despite a stuttering middle phase.
Samson and Abhishek stitched together a ۹۳-run opening stand, with Samson hammering ۶۷ off ۳۳ balls, including eight fours and four sixes, as India surged to ۹۴-۱ in the powerplay.
New Zealand hit back by removing three batters in quick succession, but Iyer countered with ۴۲ off ۲۸ balls to wrest back the momentum, before a late flourish from Dhir (۴۲ not out) took India over the line.
“They [Indian openers] put us under pressure. Another big powerplay from them. We were not at our best,” New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner said.
“In the middle, we did well to squeeze them. Tight game and both teams might look at things that could have gone here or there.”
Seifert and Allen had earlier given New Zealand a solid platform, helping the hosts reach ۶۵-۱ in the powerplay, with Allen blasting ۴۵ off ۲۴ balls.
Phillips then took charge, producing an unbeaten ۸۲ off ۴۰ deliveries, including eight fours and three sixes, while Bevon Jacobs added ۳۱ before being run out.
India’s bowlers struggled to contain the scoring, with all five used going at ۱۰ runs an over or more.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar, playing his first T۲۰ international in four years after last featuring against New Zealand in ۲۰۲۲, endured an expensive return with figures of ۰-۴۹.
The second T۲۰ will be played on Saturday in Christchurch.
