![Shreyas Iyer [Source: screengrab/x]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1792667946502_Shreyas_Iyer.jpg?type=hq)
Shreyas Iyer [Source: screengrab/x]
Shreyas Iyer held the Indian innings together from crumbling in the middle overs against New Zealand in their high-scoring first T20I in Christchurch. Chasing 226 runs for a win, the number four batter smartly rotated the strike and hit the odd boundary to keep India’s scoreboard motoring towards the ‘Black Caps’.
However, at one stage of the innings, the Indian skipper coped a nasty blow on his wrist by a beamer from New Zealand fast bowler Nathan Smith. Granted the divine gift of a ‘free hit’ by the umpire, Iyer failed to make the most of his opportunity as he got knocked over by the speedster the very next delivery.
Nathan Smith tops Shreyas Iyer, albeit on a ‘free hit’
Batting at number four and arriving to the crease at 115-2 in nine overs, Indian captain Shreyas Iyer conjured fighting partnerships with spin-bowling all-rounders Axar Patel and Naman Dhir.
At a time when the cricketer reached 33* off 20 balls to steer India to 177-5 in 15.5 overs, he coped a nasty blow to his wrist from New Zealand fast bowler Nathan Smith. Fortunately for Indian fans, Iyer shrugged off the injury and resumed his batting at a tense stage.
However, the senior Indian batter subsequently received a near-perfect yorker from Smith, who knocked over the cricketer’s middle and leg stump. Shreyas Iyer ended up surviving Nathan Smith’s onslaught as his scorching yorker occurred off a free hit.
Watch the video below:
The Indian captain was eventually dismissed by New Zealand’s fellow quick Adam Milne a couple of overs later in the innings for 42 runs from 28 balls. The seasoned pro struck two boundaries and one sixes during his run chase masterclass.
Shreyas Iyer wins it for India to go 1-0 up in series
Iyer’s cracking 42-run knock from 28 balls eventually set up path of a comprehensive and a historic Indian win with two balls to spare in a thrilling final-over finish. The outcome also helped the ‘Men in Blue’ take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series on the tour.
Despite Iyer’s run chase heroics, explosive opening batter Sanju Samson looks well on track to bag the ‘Player of the Match’ award for smearing 67 off just 33 balls earlier in the innings.
