India chased down a target of 226 against New Zealand in the first T20I at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Thursday, completing the highest successful run chase in their T20I history, Inshorts reported. India's previous highest successful chase was 209, a feat they had achieved twice.
Sanju Samson top-scored with 67 off 33 balls, reaching his fifty off just 23 balls. Samson and Abhishek Sharma put on 93 runs for the first wicket off only 34 balls, with Sharma making 29 off 12 balls, before New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner bowled Samson with India on 115 for 2 in nine overs, ESPNcricinfo's live report said.
New Zealand had earlier posted 225 for 4, built around Glenn Phillips' unbeaten 82 off 40 balls and Finn Allen's 45 off 24. India captain Shreyas Iyer had won the toss and elected to field first.
The chase tightened in the middle overs — Tilak Varma fell with the score on 117 for 3 — but Iyer and Naman Dhir carried India to 210 for 5 after 18 overs, leaving 16 needed from the last 12 balls. ESPNcricinfo's report credited Samson, Iyer and Dhir as the stars of the tense win.
The victory gives India a 1-0 lead in the five-match T20I series, which opens their tour of New Zealand.