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India Beat New Zealand in Record T20I Chase to Lead Series 1-0

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India Beat New Zealand in Record T20I Chase to Lead Series 1-0

India chased down 226 to beat New Zealand by four wickets in Christchurch, taking a 1-0 lead in the five-match T20I series. The visitors reached their target with two balls remaining after New Zealand had made 225 for four, their highest T20 total at home against India.

Sanju Samson set the pace with 67 from 33 balls, helping build a 93-run opening stand with Abhishek Sharma. India raced to 94 for one in the powerplay, putting the chase firmly in hand before New Zealand struck back with three quick wickets and tightened the contest.

Glenn Phillips had given the hosts a formidable total, scoring an unbeaten 82 from 40 balls. Finn Allen added 45 from 24, and New Zealand’s late scoring surge left India needing to sustain a demanding run rate through the closing overs.

Shreyas Iyer steadied India after the middle-order wobble with 42 from 28 balls. He was captain for the match, and his innings restored momentum before Naman Dhir finished the chase with an unbeaten 42 from just 15 deliveries.

Dhir’s late hitting carried India over the line at 19.4 overs. New Zealand had briefly made the chase difficult, but could not prevent the visitors from completing their highest successful T20I run chase. India won despite resting Jasprit Bumrah, while their bowlers had conceded 225.

The opening result leaves New Zealand needing to level the series, while India have an early advantage in a contest scheduled for five matches. New Zealand showed they could score quickly against India, but the first game also exposed how little room their bowlers had once Samson and Abhishek got the chase moving.

The second T20I is scheduled for Hagley Oval on Saturday. The available match information establishes the fixture but does not establish its result, so the series remains 1-0 to India in the events covered here.

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