1st T20I: Sanju Chetta fires as India chase 226 despite failed Tilak gamble

Brief Scores: India (230/6 in 19.4 overs) beat New Zealand (225/4 in 20 overs) by 4 wickets to take 1-0 lead in five-match series. There were plenty of Sanju Samson fans at Hagley Oval, which was packed to the rafters for the first T20I of a five-match series in Christchurch. A giant banner bearing the words "Sanju Chetta" fluttered on the grass banks of the picturesque ground, and the superstar batter did not disappoint. Under constant pressure to retain his place in the XI, Samson smashed a 33-ball 67 as India successfully chased down 226, scripting their highest-ever successful chase in T20I cricket on Thursday.1st T20I: Highlights | Scorecard Samson and Abhishek Sharma added 93 runs for the first wicket in just 35 balls, ensuring India made a flying start after Glenn Phillips's blitz helped New Zealand post a formidable 225 in 20 overs. Questions had been raised over India's reluctance to give Vaibhav Sooryavanshi a chance at the top of the order, but the two relatively senior openers repaid the faith shown in them by head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Shreyas Iyer. Sanju Samson fans in Christchurch (Screengrab from SonyLiv) Iyer had said on the eve of the match that India's players were short on sleep because of their hectic schedule. However, Samson and Abhishek showed no signs of fatigue as they plundered runs in the powerplay, extending their impressive run against New Zealand in T20Is.Cameos from Naman Dhir (42 not out off 15 balls) and Iyer (42 off 28) ensured India did not feel the pressure of the mounting required rate, despite a failed experiment involving Tilak Varma. Promoted to No. 3, Tilak managed just six runs off 11 balls, offering New Zealand a glimmer of hope after the carnage unleashed by India's openers. It was an inexplicable move, given that Ishan Kishan, a natural No. 3, has consistently provided explosive impetus in the middle order. Tilak struggled to get going against New Zealand's spinners before eventually falling to off-spinner Michael Bracewell. As India slipped from 93 for 1 to 122 for 4, Iyer held the innings together. The captain stitched together a crucial 45-run partnership with Axar Patel for the fifth wicket, with the latter providing the impetus by smashing a six and three boundaries. Iyer managed two sixes and a boundary, but kept the scoreboard ticking, preventing New Zealand from building sustained pressure. He was struck on the fingers by a nasty no-ball from Nathan Smith but was able to continue, giving India a platform from which to close out the contest.The finisher, once again, was Naman Dhir. The Mumbai Indians all-rounder has grabbed his opportunities with both hands since making his T20I debut earlier this month. He struck two sixes and five boundaries to remain unbeaten on 42 off 15 deliveries, guiding India across the finish line with two balls to spare.16-INNINGS STREAK ENDSA staggering 455 runs were scored in the series opener, defying pre-match predictions that scoring would be difficult on a chilly evening at Hagley Oval, a venue known for its relatively large boundaries. In the previous 16 innings in New Zealand, no team had crossed the 200-run mark in T20I cricket. Yet, there was no shortage of fireworks with the bat on a day when the bowlers struggled to make an impact.For India, Bhuvneshwar Kumar was relatively expensive on his return to the T20I side. He conceded 48 runs in four overs, marking his first appearance for India in the format in nearly four years.India went in with five specialist bowlers, opting for all-rounder Naman over comeback man Varun Chakravarthy. However, the bowling attack struggled to stem the flow of runs. None of India's bowlers conceded at fewer than 10 runs per over as Tim Seifert and Finn Allen gave the hosts a brisk start after India won the toss and elected to bowl.Mayank Yadav, who replaced Prince Yadav in the XI, picked up a wicket and impressed with figures of 1 for 40 from his four overs. Arshdeep Singh and Axar Patel also chipped in with a wicket apiece.Nitish Kumar Reddy went wicketless, but at least spared his captain a more expensive outing, conceding 40 runs in his four overs.- Ends