Watch: India completes highest successful T20I chase in tense last over- NZ vs IND 1st T20I

Just three days after their drawn T20I series against the West Indies at home, India have a stiff task of chasing 226 runs during the opening T20I of the five-match series against New Zealand to rewrite the history at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch as the tense last over brought excitement among the fans. 

The visiting captain, Shreyas Iyer, won the toss and decided to bowl first on a surface which looked flat and better for the chasing side. But the Kiwis were excellent with the bat and threw a new challenge to the Shreyas Iyer-led side.

India seal the chase with two balls to spare in Christchurch

Heading into the last over of the chase, India needed seven runs to win. On the very first ball of the over, Matt Henry, who was given the responsibility for the over, went for a yorker. But it was too full with the wet delivery as Naman Dhir, despite not timing it, lofted it with the bottom hand coming off the handle and got a boundary. 

Watch the moment here-

On the second ball, Dhir jabbed it to square on the leg side and took a single. The very next ball saw Nitish Reddy taking a risky single as he dived to the bowling crease to save himself from the throw of Mitchell Santner.

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On the fourth ball of the over, Dhir finished sneakily. It was a well-directed short ball as the right-handed batter took it on with the top edge flying back over the wicket-keeper for a six.

How India completed the chase of 226: A flying start and a late finish

New Zealand posted a massive score of 225 runs for the loss of four wickets in their allotted 20 overs, thanks to Finn Allen’s fine knock of 45 runs off 24 balls while Glenn Phillips cracked an unbeaten knock of 82 runs in 40 balls, thanks to eight boundaries and three sixes. Bevon Jacobs also contributed 31 runs off 16 balls with three sixes.

India went off to a flying start with a 93-run opening stand in 5.4 overs. Sanju Samson smashed 67 runs off 33 balls with eight fours and four sixes, while the captain nailed 28-ball 42. Just when the chase seemed to be getting away, Dhir played a fine knock of 42 runs off 15 balls and completed the chase by four wickets with two balls to spare.

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Brief Scores: India 230/6 (Sanju Samson 67, Naman Dhir 42*, Michael Bracewell 2/37) beat New Zealand 225/4 (Glenn Phillips 82*, Mayank Yadav 1/40) by 4 wickets.