India chase 226 to beat New Zealand in first T20I at Hagley Oval
India won the opening T20I against New Zealand at Hagley Oval on 22 October by four wickets, chasing 226 to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. They finished on 230/6 with two balls to spare, their highest successful run chase in T20I history.
Sanju Samson’s fast half-century set the platform and Naman Dhir’s unbeaten 42 off 15 balls completed the job.
The details
New Zealand made 225/4 after Shreyas Iyer won the toss and chose to field. Glenn Phillips hit an unbeaten 82 off 40 balls, with eight fours and three sixes. Finn Allen added 45 off 24 and Daryl Mitchell 28 off 19.
India began the chase briskly. Samson made 67 off 33 balls, and he and Abhishek Sharma scored 68 runs in the first four overs. Michael Bracewell removed Abhishek for 29, then Mitchell Santner dismissed Samson and Ishan Kishan in quick succession.
Shreyas Iyer (42 off 28) and Axar Patel (24 off 14) revived the innings, including a 20-run attack on Matt Henry in the 14th over. Dhir then finished it, hitting Henry over deep fine leg for six when India needed three from the last four deliveries.
Recent results
India’s recent results, from the West Indies tour of India, were: West Indies won by 6 wickets on 9 October, India won by 14 runs on 11 October, West Indies won by 24 runs on 14 October, and no result due to rain on 17 October. All four were ODIs.
New Zealand’s recent results in our records, before this match, came in July on their tour of West Indies. These were ODIs: West Indies won by 7 wickets on 11 July, New Zealand won by 6 wickets on 17 July and by 1 wicket on 19 July, and West Indies won by 2 wickets on 21 July.
What’s next
The second T20I is in Christchurch on Saturday, 24 October, at 12:30 PM IST. The third is in Wellington on Tuesday, 27 October, at 12:30 PM IST, and the fourth in Auckland on Friday, 30 October, at 12:30 PM IST. The series ends with the fifth T20I in Hamilton on 1 November.
