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 😭😭😭 #NZvsIND
— Mitchell McClenaghan (@Mitch_Savage) January 24, 2020
Wow, what a finish! Shreyas Iyer has played innings of the match to take India from a sort of crisis to commanding victory
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) January 24, 2020
204 with an over to spare..! The 3 made it look so easy! It almost felt like @ShreyasIyer15 @klrahul11 @imVkohli wanted to quickly get done so they can start rooting for Federer. Well played India.. now time to focus all energy towards Roger!#NZvsIND #AustralianOpen
— Saiyami Kher (@SaiyamiKher) January 24, 2020
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 for @ShreyasIyer15 for delivering a match winning knock.#NZvsIND #INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/yMcalR7FGJ
— R P Singh रुद्र प्रताप सिंह (@rpsingh) January 24, 2020
India chase down 204 runs with an over to spare.
What an effort 👏🇮🇳#OneFamily #CricketMeriJaan #NZvIND
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) January 24, 2020
So 200 was the par score after all on this small ground. Well done team India for making the chase look so easy… #nzvsind #kohli #Rahul #shreyas #dube #bumrah
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) January 24, 2020
Fantastic win for India to start the New Zealand tour. A record 4th time that India have chased 200+ in T20 I. Good all round batting effort with Rahul, Kohli and Shreyas Iyer playing beauties. And under the circumstances,some really tight bowling from Bumrah and Chahal #NZvIND pic.twitter.com/qTGdXDBas3
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) January 24, 2020
Fitting finish! Iyer takes India home with towering six! 🙌
A scintillating 5⃣8⃣* off just 29 deliveries to complete the task 👌#NZvIND #INDvsNZ #ThisIsNewDelhi #DelhiCapitals
— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) January 24, 2020
WHAT A WAY TO WIN IT!
Shreyas Iyer finishes off the match for #TeamIndia with a HUGE six! India start off the 5 match T20I series with a win.#NZvsIND #PlayBold
— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) January 24, 2020
That's gone outttaaa of Auckland! 😱😱😱
A monstrous biggie from Shreyas Iyer to finish things off. 🔥🔥#TeamIndia gun down 204 with 6 balls to spare. 🙌#SaddaPunjab #NZvIND
— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) January 24, 2020
Stylish knocks from KL Rahul, Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer take 🇮🇳 1-0 up in the 5-match T20I series! 🧡#NZvIND #OrangeArmy (📸: BCCI) pic.twitter.com/VXMwuQx1fm
— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) January 24, 2020
You’ve seen the rise of #ViratKohli, of Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma and now KL Rahul too.
Watch out for the next big thing – @ShreyasIyer15
Such ease and composure despite playing in New Zealand for the first time! #NZvsIND
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) January 24, 2020
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#NZvInd #IndvsNZ#NZvsIND— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) January 24, 2020
Reaches his fifty with a six ✅
Finishes off the game with a six ✅Well played, Shreyas Iyer 👏👏 #NZvIND #OrangeArmy
— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) January 24, 2020
Highest T20I chase in NZ:
245/5 Aus vs NZ
204/4 Ind vs NZ*— Broken Cricket (@BrokenCricket) January 24, 2020
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 different players scored 50+ runs. #NZvIND
— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) January 24, 2020
Lady luck paid off Shreyas Iyer #NZvsIND pic.twitter.com/OVlrjwuY21
— Kumar Sourav (@AdamDhoni1) January 24, 2020
The Art The Artist #NZvIND pic.twitter.com/hZ2cZDTPNO
— Kumar Sourav (@AdamDhoni1) January 24, 2020
Shreyas Iyer ❣❣❣#INDvsNZ pic.twitter.com/xr6pGd1dGz
— Salman Shafiq (@MDShafi89523025) January 24, 2020