India registered their highest successful T20 run chase against New Zealand as Naman Dhir scored 42 runs, breaking a 17-year-old record.
In the first T20 match played between India and New Zealand, Team India secured a notable victory. India registered its biggest successful run chase in T20 International cricket.
Naman Dhir scored runs at a strike rate of 280 in the match. When victory seemed difficult, he hit 5 fours and 2 sixes to guide the team home.
With his unbeaten 42-run innings, Naman Dhir broke a 17-year-old record. He scored the most runs batting at number seven or lower during a successful T20 chase for India.
Previously, this record belonged to former all-rounder Irfan Pathan. In 2009 in Colombo, Pathan scored an unbeaten 33 runs off 16 balls against Sri Lanka.
Pathan had a strike rate above 200 and remained not out. Dhir also had a strike rate above 200 and finished unbeaten.
India won the toss and opted to bowl first. New Zealand had an aggressive start.
Tim Seifert made 24 and Finn Allen made 45 runs. Daryl Mitchell added 28 runs to the total.
Bevon Jacobs scored 31 runs off 16 balls with 3 sixes. Glenn Phillips scored 82 runs from 40 balls with 8 fours and 3 sixes, taking New Zealand to 225 runs.
Indian bowlers set an unwanted record during the match.
Chasing 226, India started strongly scoring 94 runs in the first 6 overs. However, the team faced trouble mid-innings.
Tilak Varma was dismissed for 6 runs off 11 balls, while Ishan Kishan fell for 1 off 3 balls.
Shreyas Iyer built a 45-run partnership with Axar Patel and then added 43 runs with Naman Dhir.
Naman Dhir combined with Nitish Kumar Reddy to wrap up the chase successfully.
Dhir's fast scoring sealed the historic victory for the Indian team.
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