India vs New Zealand 1st T20I: Samson, Dhir seal 4-wicket win for India

India defeated New Zealand by four wickets in the first T20 International on Thursday, taking a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. Chasing a target of 226, India reached 230/6 in 19.4 overs, with Sanju Samson leading the charge with a blistering 67.

India got off to a flying start, reaching 94/1 at the end of the powerplay, with Samson and Tilak Varma at the crease. However, Mitchell Santner provided New Zealand with a crucial breakthrough in the ninth over, dismissing Samson for 67 off just 33 balls. Shreyas Iyer then joined Varma at the crease.

New Zealand struck again in the following over as Michael Bracewell claimed his second wicket of the innings, removing Varma for six off 11 balls. Ishan Kishan also failed to make an impact, falling to Santner for just one run and leaving India with another setback in the chase.


Axar Patel joined Iyer in the middle, and the pair added 45 runs off 24 balls to keep India in the hunt. Patel was eventually dismissed by Lockie Ferguson for 24, bringing Naman Dhir to the crease.

Iyer and Dhir counterattacked, finding the boundaries regularly and keeping the required run rate within reach. However, Adam Milne dismissed Iyer for 42 off 28 balls in the 19th over, leaving Nitish Kumar Reddy to join Dhir in the middle.

Dhir continued his aggressive approach, bringing India within touching distance of victory. With eight runs needed off the final over, India sealed the win with two balls to spare as Dhir finished the chase with a towering six.

Earlier, New Zealand posted 225/4, their highest total in a home T20 International, powered by Glenn Phillips' unbeaten 82 and an explosive start from Finn Allen and Tim Seifert.



Brief scores: New Zealand 225/4 in 20 overs (Finn Allen 45, Glenn Phillips 82 not out; Mayank Yadav 1/40) lost to India 230/6 in 19.4 overs (Sanju Samson 67, Shreyas Iyer 42, Naman Dhir 42 not out; Michael Bracewell 2/37) by 5 wickets.