Photo by Michal Klajban (CC BY-SA 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons

Samson's fast start and Dhir's finish give India a 1-0 lead in Christchurch

India began their New Zealand tour with a chase that most sides would not attempt. Chasing 226 at Hagley Oval, they finished on 230 for 6 with two balls to spare and won the first T20I by four wickets.

New Zealand were put in and made 225 for 4. Glenn Phillips was unbeaten on 82 from 40 balls, with eight fours and three sixes, and Finn Allen added 45 from 24 before Axar Patel caught him at long-off. Bevon Jacobs hit 31 from 16 balls, and the last five overs produced 67 runs.

India answered at once. Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma added 93 in 35 balls, Samson passing fifty in 23 balls.

Samson made 67 from 33 before Mitchell Santner bowled him, leaving India 119 for 3 after ten overs. Shreyas Iyer, who captains the T20I side, scored 42 before Adam Milne removed him at the start of the 19th over.

That left the finish to Naman Dhir. He made 42 not out from 15 balls and hit the winning six off Matt Henry's last over. He was named Player of the Match.

The second T20I is at the same ground on 24 October, with 12:30 pm IST the start time given. After a 225 first innings, India's bowlers, led by Axar (1 for 51) and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (0 for 49), will want to be tighter.

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