India Chase Down 225 for Record Win Over New Zealand as Samson and Dhir Star
New Zealand’s big total of 225 ultimately proved not enough to win. Chasing the target, India counter-attacked from the very start and rode that aggression to a record-breaking victory.
In Christchurch on Thursday (22 October), India beat New Zealand by four wickets in the first T20 international. Replying to the hosts’ 225, the visitors scored 230 for six in 19.4 overs to win the match and take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
It is the highest successful run chase in India’s T20 international history. Their previous best was chasing 209 against Australia in 2023. This time Shreyas Iyer’s team broke that record by overhauling a target of 226.
Batting first, New Zealand were aggressive from the start. Finn Allen’s 45 off 24 balls moved the hosts’ scoring along quickly.
Glenn Phillips then took charge of the innings. He scored an unbeaten 82 off 40 balls, with four fours and six sixes. Phillips also shared a 73-run fourth-wicket partnership with Bevon Jacobs, taking New Zealand to 225 for four in 20 overs.
Chasing such a target, India made clear from the outset that they had not come merely to keep up with the required rate. Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma added 93 runs for the opening wicket in just 5.5 overs.
Abhishek fell for 29 off 12 balls, but Samson kept attacking. The batter, who reached his half-century in just 23 balls, eventually made 67 off 33 balls with eight fours and four sixes. Samson’s destructive batting gave India’s chase its momentum.
After Samson departed, New Zealand tried to fight their way back into the match, and India began losing wickets at regular intervals. But Shreyas Iyer and Noman Dhir did not let the scoring rate drop too much.
Iyer’s innings of 42 kept India in the contest. Then Dhir’s explosive batting at the end decided the fate of the match.
Dhir remained unbeaten on 42 off just 15 balls. His stormy innings completed India’s victory, and the visitors reached the target with two balls to spare.
New Zealand’s big total, built on Glenn Phillips’ superb batting, ultimately could not prevent defeat. Samson’s start and Dhir’s finish were the two innings that made the difference in the match.
India will look to carry the confidence of this record win into the remaining matches of the series. New Zealand, meanwhile, will have to rethink their bowling after losing despite scoring 225.
