India Make Cricket History, Become 1st Team Ever To Achieve Enormous T20I Record

Team India celebrate after their win over New Zealand in the second T20I© AFP

India pulled off a memorable run chase against New Zealand in the second T20I on Saturday, as Tilak Varma, Naman Dhir and Nitish Reddy turned out to be the unlikely heroes on a day the top order failed to fire. The victory was also a landmark one for India. In what was the nation's 300th T20I game, it was also their 200th outright victory in the format. India, therefore, have become the first team to secure 200 outright wins in T20I cricket history.

In their 300 T20Is played, India have sealed 200 outright wins, with 83 losses. Seven games - excluding the 200 wins - have ended in ties. The remaining 10 T20Is ended in a no-result.

Pakistan have the next most outright wins with 176 in 304 T20Is. They're followed by New Zealand (135), South Africa (129), England (128) and Australia (127). All four nations, however, have played significantly fewer T20Is than India or Pakistan.

India vs New Zealand, 2nd T20I: As it happened

Tilak Varma produced a stunning unbeaten 51 off just 26 balls to script India's remarkable four-wicket victory over New Zealand in the second T20 International here on Saturday, guiding the visitors home with one ball to spare after they slumped to 70 for five.

Tilak found an able ally in Nitish Kumar Reddy, who smashed an unbeaten 26 off 13 deliveries, as the duo launched a blistering counterattack to overhaul the 181-run target.

Their unbroken seventh-wicket partnership turned the contest on its head, taking India to 181 for six in 19.5 overs.

The chase had looked in serious trouble when Mitchell Santner ripped through India's middle order with four wickets for 21 runs in his four overs.

Earlier, India produced a much better bowling display before New Zealand rode on half-centuries from Glenn Phillips and Bevon Jacobs to post 180 for five.

Phillips smashed a 43-ball 70, while Jacobs contributed 58 off 46 deliveries as the duo rescued New Zealand from a shaky start with a 116-run partnership for the fourth wicket.

The visitors had slipped to 41 for three in the sixth over after India's bowlers struck early, but Phillips and Jacobs steadied the innings with a measured approach before accelerating in the latter stages.

With PTI inputs

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