CHRISTCHURCH: Tilak Varma’s unbeaten 51 off 26 balls and Nitish Kumar Reddy’s quickfire 26 guided India to a thrilling four-wicket victory over New Zealand in the second T20 International on Saturday, completing a chase of 181 with one ball to spare.
India finished at 181 for six in 19.5 overs after slipping to 70 for five. Tilak and Reddy rescued the visitors with an unbeaten 69-run partnership off just 30 deliveries for the seventh wicket.
Tilak struck six fours and a six, reaching his half-century in 25 balls, while Reddy smashed a four and a six in his 13-ball knock. Their counterattack turned the contest around after New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner claimed four wickets for 21 runs.
Naman Dhir contributed 31 off 17 balls, while Abhishek Sharma scored 27. Santner’s spell had left India struggling before Tilak and Reddy took charge in the closing overs.
Earlier, New Zealand posted 180 for five after Glenn Phillips scored 70 off 43 balls and Bevon Jacobs made 58 off 46 deliveries. The pair rebuilt the innings with a 116-run fourth-wicket stand after New Zealand lost three wickets for 41 runs.
Arshdeep Singh was India’s leading wicket-taker with two for 33, while Prince Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Nitish Reddy claimed one wicket each.
India’s late surge secured a hard-fought victory, with Tilak’s composure and Reddy’s aggression proving decisive.