India became the first team to register 200 victories in men’s T20 Internationals after defeating New Zealand by four wickets in a thrilling second match of the five-game series at Hagley Oval, Christchurch. Chasing 181 for victory, India recovered from a precarious 70 for five to reach 181 for six, with Tilak Varma and Nitish Kumar Reddy guiding the visitors home through an unbeaten 69-run partnership for the seventh wicket.
The win gave India a 2-0 lead in the series, with three matches remaining. India have now won 200 of their 300 T20Is since making their debut in the format in 2006, losing 83 matches, while the remaining games have ended in ties or no results. India also boast a 71.20 per cent winning percentage among Full Member nations in the format.
What happened
New Zealand posted 180 for five after being asked to bat, recovering from early setbacks through Glenn Phillips and Bevon Jacobs. Arshdeep Singh dismissed Tim Seifert in the second over before Bhuvneshwar Kumar removed Daryl Mitchell. Prince Yadav then bowled Finn Allen for 16, leaving the hosts at 41 for three at the end of the Powerplay.
Phillips and Jacobs revived New Zealand’s innings with a 116-run partnership. Phillips scored 70 off 43 deliveries, hitting eight fours and four sixes, while Jacobs contributed 58 off 46 balls. Phillips departed in the 18th over, caught by Naman Dhir, before Jacobs fell soon after. Michael Bracewell provided a late boost with a boundary and a six off his only two deliveries as New Zealand finished on 180 for five.
India’s chase began steadily, with Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma adding 40 for the opening wicket. However, Samson fell to Jacob Duffy before teenage batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was dismissed for four. Abhishek’s departure was followed by the wickets of Axar Patel and captain Shreyas Iyer, with Mitchell Santner playing a pivotal role in New Zealand’s fightback. Santner also dismissed Naman Dhir, who had scored a brisk 31 off 17 balls, leaving India in serious trouble at 70 for five.
The rescue
Varma held firm amid the collapse before Reddy joined him to turn the contest around. Varma remained unbeaten on 47, while Reddy scored an explosive 26 off just 13 deliveries as the pair kept their composure under pressure. India needed 11 runs from the final over, but the duo ensured there was no late drama, completing the chase off the penultimate ball.
Their 69-run stand surpassed the previous Indian record for the seventh wicket in T20Is, a 63-run partnership between Dinesh Karthik and Krunal Pandya against New Zealand in 2019. That detail matters because it shows this was not just a recovery, it was a record recovery, and it came in a match where India were chasing a total that, at 70 for five, looked well beyond them.
Why it matters
Two hundred wins in 300 matches is a milestone that says as much about longevity as it does about dominance. India have been playing T20 Internationals since 2006, and a 71.20 per cent winning percentage among Full Member nations is the kind of record that is built over many teams, many conditions and many different captains, not one golden generation.
This match also showed why this Indian side is hard to beat in a chase. Even after losing five wickets early, there was still a partnership in the lower middle order capable of finishing the job. That depth is what turns a collapse into a comeback, and it is what New Zealand will have to solve in the remaining matches.
For New Zealand, the frustration will be that they did most of the hard work. Phillips and Jacobs rebuilt the innings, Santner dragged them back into the match with the ball, and at 70 for five they were in control. Losing from there, with one ball to spare, is the kind of defeat that can linger.
What happens next
The teams will next meet in the third T20I in Wellington on October 27. A further Indian victory there would give the visitors an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series, with two matches still to play. New Zealand, by contrast, must win in Wellington simply to keep the series alive.
That makes Wellington a different kind of match. It is no longer just the next game in a series, it is a must-win for the hosts, and a chance for India to close the series out early. The Christchurch thriller will be fresh in both dressing rooms, and the team that handles the pressure better in Wellington will probably decide where this series goes.
Score summary
New Zealand: 180 for five. Glenn Phillips 70 off 43, Bevon Jacobs 58 off 46, partnership 116 runs.
India: 181 for six. Tilak Varma 47 not out, Nitish Kumar Reddy 26 not out off 13, partnership 69 runs unbeaten for the seventh wicket. India won by four wickets, with one ball to spare.
Series: India lead 2-0, three matches remaining.
Timeline
- Powerplay: New Zealand reduced to 41 for three, with Seifert, Mitchell and Allen dismissed.
- Middle overs: Phillips and Jacobs add 116 runs to revive New Zealand to 180 for five.
- India’s chase, early: Samson and Abhishek add 40 for the first wicket, then India collapse to 70 for five.
- India’s chase, late: Varma and Reddy add an unbeaten 69 runs for the seventh wicket.
- Final over: India need 11 runs, complete the chase off the penultimate ball, win by four wickets.
- October 27: Third T20I in Wellington.
Frequently asked questions
How did India win the second T20I against New Zealand? India chased 181 at Hagley Oval, Christchurch, recovering from 70 for five to reach 181 for six, winning by four wickets with one ball to spare.
Who were the key players for India? Tilak Varma, unbeaten on 47, and Nitish Kumar Reddy, 26 off 13 deliveries, shared an unbeaten 69-run partnership for the seventh wicket.
Who top-scored for New Zealand? Glenn Phillips scored 70 off 43 deliveries, with Bevon Jacobs contributing 58 off 46 balls in a 116-run partnership.
Why is this win historic for India? It was India’s 200th victory in men’s T20 Internationals, from 300 matches since their debut in the format in 2006, making them the first team to reach 200 wins.
What is the series score? India lead the five-match series 2-0, with three matches remaining.
When is the next match? The third T20I is in Wellington on October 27.
For the latest on this series and other major stories, see the Sports section. For another comeback win from earlier in the week, see the Brewers’ 5-4 win in World Series Game 2.