Samson, Iyer, Dhir script India's biggest T20I chase to win Christchurch opener
India began their five-match T20I tour of New Zealand by completing the highest successful run chase in their men's T20 international history. At Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Thursday, they hunted down 226 and finished on 230 for 6 in 19.4 overs. The four-wicket win came with two balls left and gave them a 1-0 lead.
New Zealand had looked well placed after India chose to field. They finished on 225 for 4, and Glenn Phillips drove the innings with an unbeaten 82 off 40 balls. His knock had eight fours and three sixes, and his strike rate was above 200. Finn Allen gave the innings early speed with 45 off 24, and Bevon Jacobs added a late 31 not out off 16. Indian bowlers took wickets at intervals but could never hold the scoring down. Mayank Yadav and Arshdeep Singh took one wicket each. Daryl Mitchell fell to Arshdeep for 28.
The target was big for any side, and India answered it from the first over. Samson and Abhishek Sharma put on 93 in the powerplay, and India were 94 for 1 after six overs. The third and fourth overs of the chase brought 22 and 26 runs. Samson reached his fifty off 23 balls in the sixth over. In that same over Abhishek fell to Michael Bracewell for 29 off 12 balls. By then the early runs had cut the required rate to a manageable level.
New Zealand's spinners then pulled the game back. Samson kept attacking and finished with 67 off 33 balls, including eight fours and four sixes. He got little support at the other end for a while, and wickets fell in a cluster. Bracewell ended with 2 for 37, and Mitchell Santner also took two wickets. With the asking rate rising again, the match seemed to be tilting towards the hosts.
Iyer then steadied the chase with 42, and Axar Patel chipped in with a brisk 24. Dhir finished it with an unbeaten 42 off 15 balls. He cleared the rope in the last over, a streaky shot that still carried enough power, and that sealed the win. Dew later in the evening also made the ball harder for the New Zealand bowlers to grip, which helped the chasing side.
The result has several implications for India:
First, the chase shows how deep the batting is. Samson set up the chase, and Iyer, Axar and Dhir finished it after the early wickets. A side that can win from 226 with the top order gone is hard to contain.
Second, the bowling needs attention. India conceded 225 on a ground with short-ish boundaries, and Phillips went at more than two runs a ball. The bowlers will want to tighten their death-overs plans before the second T20I, since dew may again be a factor in this series.
Third, Samson's form is encouraging. His 67 off 33 was a captain's-style innings of control and intent. It also fits the aggressive approach the Indian top order has taken in this format.
New Zealand have good reason to feel they let this one go. A total above 220 usually wins a T20I, and they will rue not closing the game out once they had India under pressure. Phillips had a standout day with the bat, but the spinners could not finish what they started. They will look to bounce back in the second match, with four games still to play and the series wide open.