New Delhi: India registered a four-wicket victory over New Zealand in the first T20 match played in Christchurch. Chasing a mammoth target of 226 runs, India set a new record for their highest successful run chase against New Zealand in T20 Internationals. With this win, India took a 1-0 lead in the series.

Openers Sanju Samson and captain Shreyas Iyer were the key architects of India's victory, making the daunting target look achievable. In the closing overs, Naman Dhir produced explosive batting to guide India to a memorable win.

Chasing New Zealand's imposing target of 226 runs, Indian openers Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma gave the team a flying start. Samson played a brilliant innings of 67 off 33 balls, hitting eight fours and four sixes. His opening partner, Abhishek Sharma, scored 29 off just 12 deliveries, including two fours and three sixes.

In the middle order, captain Shreyas Iyer steadied the innings with a valuable 42 off 28 balls. However, Tilak Varma departed for six runs, while Ishan Kishan managed just one run before returning to the pavilion.

In the closing stages, Naman Dhir batted at a strike rate of 280, smashing an unbeaten 42 off just 15 balls, including five fours and two sixes. Axar Patel also made a valuable contribution, scoring 24 off 14 deliveries.

India reached 230 for six in 19.4 overs to clinch the thrilling contest. For New Zealand, Michael Bracewell and Mitchell Santner claimed two wickets each, but their efforts were not enough to prevent their team from suffering defeat.

Earlier, after losing the toss, New Zealand posted an imposing total of 225 for four in their allotted 20 overs. Openers Tim Seifert and Finn Allen provided an excellent start, putting together 49 runs for the first wicket.

Seifert scored 24 off 17 balls, hitting three fours and a six. Meanwhile, Finn Allen played an aggressive innings of 45 off 24 deliveries, including five fours and two sixes.

Daryl Mitchell failed to convert a promising start into a substantial score, departing for 28 off 19 balls. Arshdeep Singh sent him back to the pavilion.

Glenn Phillips and Bevon Jacobs then took the innings forward, stitching together a 73-run partnership for the fourth wicket in just 32 balls. Jacobs was run out after scoring 31 off 16 deliveries, including three sixes.

Phillips continued the onslaught, reaching his half-century in just 27 balls. He remained unbeaten on 82 off 40 deliveries, striking eight fours and three sixes.

Batting at a strike rate of 205, Phillips troubled the Indian bowlers throughout his innings. Michael Bracewell remained unbeaten on seven runs.

For India, Arshdeep Singh, Mayank Yadav and Axar Patel picked up one wicket each. However, the Indian bowling attack proved expensive overall.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who returned to the team after four years, conceded 49 runs in his four overs. Arshdeep Singh gave away 45 runs, while Axar Patel leaked 51 runs in his four-over spell. Nitish Kumar Reddy also conceded 40 runs without taking a wicket.

India successfully chased down New Zealand's imposing total to secure a four-wicket victory and take a 1-0 lead in the T20 series.