Christchurch, October 22, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Sanju Samson smashed a blistering 33-ball 67 before Naman Dhir produced an explosive unbeaten 42 off just 15 deliveries to power India to a record-breaking T20I chase of 226 runs, securing a four-wicket victory over New Zealand in the opening match of the five-game series at Hagley Oval on Thursday.
Chasing New Zealand’s imposing total of 225/4, India reached 230/6 in 19.4 overs to register their highest successful run chase in men’s T20 internationals. The victory gave India a 1-0 lead in the series, with the second match scheduled to be played in Christchurch on Saturday.
Earlier, Glenn Phillips anchored New Zealand’s innings with an unbeaten 82 off 40 balls, helping the hosts post a formidable total. However, Samson and Dhir’s aggressive batting, aided by dew later in the evening, turned the contest in India’s favour.
India made a flying start despite Matt Henry beating Samson on the first delivery of the chase. Abhishek Sharma launched the final ball of the opening over for six, recording his seventh six off the first ball faced in a T20 match, a format record. Samson struck consecutive boundaries off Adam Milne, while Lockie Ferguson’s expensive opening over, which included several wides, cost New Zealand 22 runs.
Milne endured another difficult over as Abhishek struck two edged fours and two sixes, bringing India 26 runs. Samson then struck a six off Henry, taking India’s tally of maximums in T20 internationals during the calendar year to 350, the highest by any team in a single year.
Samson continued his assault and brought up his half-century in just 23 balls with a six and a four off Michael Bracewell. Bracewell, however, dismissed Abhishek for a rapid 29 off 12 deliveries in the same over, as India finished the powerplay at 94/1.
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner provided a crucial breakthrough in the ninth over, bowling Samson through an under-edge. The wicketkeeper-batter’s outstanding knock included eight fours and four sixes.
Tilak Varma, promoted to No. 3, struggled to build momentum and departed for six off 11 balls, caught off Bracewell. Santner then removed Ishan Kishan for one, leaving India at 122/4 and bringing New Zealand back into the contest.
Axar Patel broke a 22-ball boundary drought by finding the gap between deep mid-wicket and deep square leg off Santner. He and captain Shreyas Iyer then took 20 runs from Henry’s third over. Ferguson subsequently had Axar caught at short mid-wicket for 24 off 14 balls, while Iyer was dropped in the same over.
With India requiring 48 runs from the final four overs, Santner returned after suffering a nasty fall but conceded 19 runs in his over as Dhir struck a six and a four. Ferguson then dropped Dhir at short third man, and the batter capitalised by hitting two more boundaries off Nathan Smith.
Milne dismissed Iyer for 42 off 28 balls at the start of the 19th over, with Santner taking the catch. But Dhir maintained his composure and kept India within reach of victory.
India needed eight runs from the final over, with New Zealand also facing a penalty for a slow over-rate. Dhir drove a full toss from Henry through the boundary for four before sealing the win with a top-edged six over the wicketkeeper.
The defeat will leave New Zealand regretting their inability to maintain pressure with the ball. Expensive powerplay overs and a large number of extras gave India early momentum, forcing the hosts to play catch-up despite taking wickets in the middle overs.
FOLLOW NOW
