Samson’s 33-ball 67 and Dhir’s finish take India past New Zealand in Christchurch

India chased down a target of 226 in the first T20I against New Zealand at Hagley Oval, Christchurch, on 22 October, winning by four wickets with two balls to spare. The result gives them a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.

New Zealand’s 225 for 4

New Zealand were put in and made 225 for 4. Glenn Phillips was the star, finishing on 82 not out off 40 balls with eight fours and three sixes. Finn Allen gave the innings its early speed with 45 off 24 balls, Bevon Jacobs added 31 off 16 before he was run out by Arshdeep Singh, and Daryl Mitchell (28) and Tim Seifert (24) made useful contributions.

Samson sets the tone

India’s reply was built on a ferocious start. Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma added 93 before the first wicket fell in the sixth over, and India reached the end of the powerplay at 94 for 1. Abhishek made 29 off 12 balls. Samson went on to 67 off 33 balls, with eight fours and four sixes, before Mitchell Santner removed him in the ninth over.

The middle order holds, Dhir finishes

The chase did not run smoothly after the openers left. Santner and Michael Bracewell took two wickets each, and Abhishek, Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan and Axar all departed in the middle overs. Captain Shreyas Iyer steadied the innings with 42, but when he fell in the 19th over, India still needed a late burst.

Naman Dhir supplied it. He stayed unbeaten on 42 off 15 balls and hit the winning six in the final over, sealing the win with two balls in hand. Nitish Kumar Reddy was at the other end.

What comes next

The teams stay in Christchurch for the second T20I at Hagley Oval on 24 October.