Second T20I: India Beat New Zealand by Four Wickets

Christchurch, October 24: A late partnership between Tilak Varma and Nitish Kumar Reddy helped India defeat New Zealand by four wickets in the second T20 International. The hosts were chasing a target of 181 at Hagley Oval and completed the task in 19.5 overs, with six wickets down.

Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma gave India a sound start, putting on 40 runs for the opening wicket in 4.4 overs. Samson was out for 14 runs from 17 balls after a difficult knock. Abhishek scored 27 from 21 balls before he was dismissed by Mitchell Santner.

Vaibhav Suryavanshi replaced Ishan Kishan in the playing XI but could not make a significant contribution, scoring four from eight balls. Captain Shreyas Iyer was cleaned up by Santner for seven from 11 balls. Axar Patel was dismissed for 11.

Naman Dhir hit some powerful strokes to score 31 from 17 balls before departing. At that stage, India needed a steady hand, and Nitish Kumar Reddy and Tilak Varma provided it. Their unbeaten seventh-wicket stand of 69 runs from 30 balls carried India over the line.

Tilak finished unbeaten on 51 from 26 balls, including six fours and a six. Nitish Kumar Reddy stayed not out on 26 from 13 balls.

Mitchell Santner was the leading performer for New Zealand, taking four wickets for 21 runs in four overs.

Before the chase, New Zealand had scored 180 for five in 20 overs. Their innings got off to a slow start, with Tim Seifert scoring seven and Daryl Mitchell six. Finn Allen made 16 from 14 balls before being bowled by Prince Yadav.

Glenn Phillips and Bevon Jacobs then stabilised the innings with a 116-run partnership for the fourth wicket, scored from 76 balls. Jacobs was out for 58 from 46 balls. Phillips hit 70 from just 43 balls.

In the bowling, Arshdeep Singh took the most wickets for India with two. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Prince Yadav and Nitish Kumar Reddy each claimed one.

With this victory, India have moved into a 2-0 lead in the five-match T20 series.