Sanju Samson special, cameos by Shreyas and Naman help India pull off most successful chase against New Zealand

ByTech Word News

Sanju Samson celebrates after scoring 50 during the T20 International cricket tournament between New Zealand and India in Christchurch, New Zealand. Sanju Samson continued his consistent run in T20Is this year with 67 off 33 balls as India produced their most successful run chase in T20 cricket to beat New Zealand by four wickets in the first match of the five-match series in Christchurch on Thursday.Chasing 226, India got off to a flying start but lost their way in the middle overs before captain Shreyas Iyer and Naman Dhir helped them cross the finish line with two balls to spare. Shreyas scored 42 while Naman remained unbeaten on 42 from just 15 deliveries.Most successful chases for India in T20Is

  • 226 vs NZ, Christchurch, 2026
  • 209 vs AUS, Visakhapatnam, 2023
  • 209 vs NZ, Raipur, 2026
  • 208 vs WI, Hyderabad, 2019
  • 207 vs SL, Mohali, 2009
  • 204 vs NZ, Auckland, 2020

The second T20I is also being played at Hagley Oval on Saturday.India looked in control after racing to 94/1 in the powerplay, with Samson leading the charge. However, New Zealand spinners Mitchell Santner and Michael Bracewell brought the hosts back into the game as India lost three wickets for seven runs. From 93 for no loss, the visitors slumped to 122/4 in the 11th over.Long boundaries also played a part in India’s middle-order collapse, with Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma losing their wickets as they tried to clear the ropes.However, Samson had already given India the platform they needed. He hit eight fours and four sixes in his 67 to record his eighth score of 50 or more in 26 innings this year. He aimed straight for the boundary regularly as he fired Lockie Ferguson over long-on.Abhishek Sharma supported Samson during their 93-run opening partnership, scoring 29 off 12 balls. Adam Milne hit two consecutive sixes in the fourth over as India raced towards the target.With the chase in danger of slipping away, Shreyas took charge and kept India in contention. He also benefited from a reprieve when Finn Allen dropped a tough catch in the 15th over. India needed 55 runs from the last 30 balls with five wickets to spare.Naman joined Shreyas and set early boundaries to ease the pressure. Their contributions proved to be enough to take India over the line in a tense finish.Earlier, New Zealand posted 225/8 after being asked to bat, with Finn Allen scoring 45 off 24 balls and Glenn Phillips an unbeaten 82 off 40. The total was New Zealand’s highest on home soil and joint-highest against India in T20Is.Despite the early boom, the New Zealand openers found ways to score freely. Tim Seifert, who made 24 off 17 balls, struck Bhuvneshwar Kumar after the Indian pacer bowled the first over decently. Seifert hit two fours and a six over long-on in Bhuvneshwar’s next over, which cost 17 runs.Allen then attacked Arshdeep Singh and helped New Zealand build momentum in the powerplay. Mayank Yadav gave India the breakthrough when Seifert was caught off the last ball of the fifth over.Axar Patel, playing the last over, conceded two sixes as Allen cleared long-off and Daryl Mitchell stepped up to hit over long-on. New Zealand reached 65/1 in the first six overs.Arshdeep later dismissed Mitchell but India’s bowlers struggled to maintain the score. Bhuvneshwar conceded 49 runs without a wicket in four overs while Axar gave away 51. Bevon Jacobs added 31 off 16 balls, including a first-ball six down the ground off Arshdeep, before Phillips finished the innings with a flick over cover.New Zealand scored 67 runs in the last five overs to set India a target of 226. However, Samson’s innings and late contributions from Shreyas and Naman ensured that the visitors started the series with a win.