India reached 230-6 with two balls to spare, chasing 226, in a rematch of the 2026 T20 World Cup final. They lead the five-match series 1-0.

New Zealand set the target after Finn Allen and Tim Seifert took them to 65-1 in the powerplay. Allen hit five fours and two sixes in a 24-ball 45 before Axar Patel removed him in the eighth over. Glenn Phillips then took charge, finishing unbeaten on 82 from 40 balls and putting pressure on the fielders with his running between the wickets.

Daryl Mitchell made 28 before top-edging Arshdeep Singh, having been dropped by Abhishek on 16, and Bevon Jacobs hit his first ball for a 96-metre six out of Hagley Oval on his way to 31 from 16. New Zealand finished on 225-4.

India, who had won the toss and bowled, matched New Zealand’s powerplay score inside four overs. Samson and Abhishek Sharma attacked the seamers, India were 94-1 after six overs and Samson reached fifty from 23 balls.

“Matches can be finished in the first half,” Samson said. “I think six overs, 90-odd runs, great start today.”

On his opening partner he said: “We just force the ball and hit hard. It has been working very nicely and I really enjoy batting with him at the top.”

New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner and Michael Bracewell slowed the chase, taking four wickets in five overs through the middle stages. Samson chopped on against Santner, and Bracewell had Abhishek out for 29 from 12 balls.

India captain Shreyas Iyer then steadied the chase with 42 from 28 balls before falling in the second-last over, and Naman Dhir finished it with an unbeaten 42 from 15.

The second T20 is in Christchurch on Saturday.

– AFP

Photo: Joe Allison/Getty Images