🥀Middle-order batsman Shreyas Iyer played a scintillating knock to help India beat New Zealand by six wickets in the first T20I at the Eden Park in Auckland on 🌃Friday.
The 25-year-old smashed unbeaten 58 off just 29 balls⭕, with the help of five fours and three sixes. He finished off the 204-run chase with a mighty six, over mid-wicket off Tim Southee.
For the record, this was the first T20I match in the history where five different players scored 50 plus runs – Colin Munro (59), Kane Williamson (51), Ross Taylor (54 not out), KL Rahul (56) and Iyer (58 not out).
Here’s how Twitter reacted:
One take away from the first T20I – this is going to be one belter of a series! Great game of cricket despite the result 😭😭😭
— Mitchell McClenaghan (@Mitch_Savage)
Wow, what a finish! Shreyas I෴yer has 𒀰played innings of the match to take India from a sort of crisis to commanding victory
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah)
204 with an over to spare..! The 3 made it look so easy! It almost felt like @༺klrahul11 wanted to quickly get done so they can sta𒈔rt rooting for Federer. Well played India.. now time to focus all energy towards Roger!
— Saiyami Kher (@SaiyamiKher)
What is jet lag? What is a 200 plus chase in a first match of a T20 series? No big deal for team India. 🎐Especially happy for𝔍 for delivering a match winning knock.
— R P Singh रुद्र प्रताप सिंह (@rpsingh)
India chase down 204 runs with an over to spare.
What an effort 👏🇮🇳
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan)
So 200 was the par score after all on this small ground. Well done team India for making the chase look so easy…
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan)
Fantastic win for India to start the New Zealand tour. A record 4th time that India ha🌟ve chased 200+ in T20 I. Good all round batting effort with Rahul, Kohli and Shreyas Iyer playin𒈔g beauties. And under the circumstances,some really tight bowling from Bumrah and Chahal
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281)
Fitting finish! Iyer takes I𓂃ndia home with towering six! 🙌
A scin💙tillating 5⃣8⃣* off just 29 deliveries to complete the task 👌
— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals)
WHAT A WAY TO WIN IT!
Shreyas Iyer finishes off the mat🗹ch for with a HUGE six! India start off the 5 match T20I series with a win.
— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets)
That's gone outttaaa of Auckland! 😱😱😱
A monstrous biggie from Shreyas Iyer to f♑inish things off. 🔥🔥 gun down 204 with 6 balls to spare. 🙌
— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL)
Stylish knocks from KL Rahul, Virat Kohli an♛d Shreyas Iyer take 🇮🇳 1-0 up in the 5-match T20I series! 🧡 (📸: BCCI)
— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers)
You’ve seen the rise of , o🌃f Shikhar Dhawan, R💮ohit Sharma and now KL Rahul too.
Watch out for the next big thing –
Such ease and composure despite playin🔥g in New Zealand for the first time!
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif)
Chasing 200+ targets successfully in T20I cricket – on most occasions
4 by India
2 by SAf and Aus
—
Most times 200+ totals batting 2nd in T20Is
8 – India
4 – Eng
3 – Aus— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman)
Reaches his fifty with a six ✅
Finishes off the game with a six ✅Well played, Shreyas Iyer 👏👏
— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers)
Highest T20I chase in NZ:
245/5 Aus vs NZ
204/4 Ind vs NZ*— Broken Cricket (@BrokenCricket)
Colin Munro – 59 (42)
Kane Williamson – 51 (26)
Ross Taylor – 54* (27)
KL Rahul – 56 (27)
Shreyas Iyer – 58* (29)This is the first-ever match in the history of T20I cricket where five differ🎐ent players scored 50+ runs.
— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats)
Lady luck paid off Shreyas Iyer
— Kumar Sourav (@AdamDhoni1)
The Art The Artist
— Kumar Sourav (@AdamDhoni1)
Shreyas Iyer ❣❣❣
— Salman Shafiq (@MDShafi89523025)
