Sanju Samson’s explosive 33-ball 67 and Naman Dhir’s late assault helped India beat New Zealand by four wickets in the opening T20I in Christchurch on Thursday, giving the visitors a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. Chasing a target of 226, India crossed the finish line with two balls to spare with Dhir sealing the victory by smashing a mighty six. This was India's highest-ever successful run chase in the history of T20Is
India captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and elected to bowl at Hagley Oval, but New Zealand’s openers Finn Allen and Tim Seifert gave the hosts a flying start. They put together a 49-run partnership in the first five overs. Arshdeep Singh provided India with a breakthrough by dismissing Seifert for 24 off 17 balls before also removing Daryl Mitchell for 28. Glenn Phillips and Bevon Jacobs then put the Indian bowling attack under pressure with a 73-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Jacobs was eventually run out with New Zealand at 195/4, but Phillips continued his assault, reaching his 13th T20I half-century in just 27 balls.
Phillips remained unbeaten on 82 off 40 deliveries, while Michael Bracewell finished on seven not out. New Zealand added 14 runs in Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s final over to post a total of 225/4. Bhuvneshwar’s return to international cricket after nearly four years wasn’t an ideal one as he conceded 49 runs without taking a wicket in his four overs.
Samson and Abhishek Sharma gave India a flying start, adding 93 runs for the opening wicket. Abhishek scored a brisk 29 off 12 balls before Michael Bracewell ended the partnership. Samson continued the assault, striking boundaries at regular intervals before Mitchell Santner dismissed him for a fluent 67 off just 33 deliveries in the ninth over.
India then suffered a brief middle-order collapse. Michael Bracewell removed Tilak Varma for six off 11 balls, while Santner dismissed Ishan Kishan for just one.
Axar Patel and Iyer steadied the chase with a 45-run partnership off 24 balls. Patel contributed 24 before Lockie Ferguson sent him back to the pavilion, bringing Dhir to the crease. Iyer and Dhir counterattacked to keep India within reach of victory. However, Adam Milne dismissed the India skipper for 42 off 28 balls in the 19th over, leaving Nitish Kumar Reddy to join Dhir in the middle.
With eight runs needed off the final over, Dhir and Nitish Kumar Reddy took a single each off the first two deliveries before the former sealed the victory with a towering six off Matt Henry.
The second T20I of the five-match series will also be played at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Saturday (October 24).
