New Zealand produced a stunning batting display to beat India by 87 runs in the fourth T20I at Eden Park. Glenn Phillips led the charge with a 49-ball 107, while Michael Bracewell smashed 65 off just 25 deliveries. The hosts posted 259/7, their highest-ever T20I total, before Jacob Duffy ripped through India’s top order.
India’s reply never got going. Duffy returned figures of 4/23 as the visitors finished on 172/9. The defeat also ended India’s unbeaten T20I run in New Zealand.
IND vs NZ: Phillips and Bracewell take India apart
India made an early impact with the ball. Mayank Yadav dismissed Tim Seifert in the opening over before removing Daryl Mitchell with a pinpoint yorker. Finn Allen kept the scoring rate up, but Axar Patel ended his innings for 31.
Mayank struck again to leave New Zealand at 112/4 in the 11th over. India had a chance to restrict the hosts to a manageable total. Phillips and Bracewell had other plans.
The pair launched a brutal counterattack. They added 115 runs from just 40 balls, the fastest 100-plus partnership against India in T20Is.
Bracewell attacked from the moment he arrived. He raced to his half-century in just 19 balls, matching the joint second-fastest fifty against India. His innings included three sixes off Mayank in the 17th over.
Phillips was equally destructive. He took Nitish Kumar Reddy for four consecutive sixes in the 16th over. The New Zealand batter brought up his hundred in 46 balls, hitting 10 sixes along the way.
Bracewell eventually fell for 65, while Phillips departed for 107 after Nitish took the wicket. But the damage was already done.
New Zealand post their highest T20I total
The hosts finished on 259/7, setting a new record for their highest T20I score. They smashed 20 sixes and collected 150 runs in the final 10 overs.
India’s bowling attack struggled to contain the late assault. Mayank picked up three wickets but conceded 48 runs. Nitish gave away 64 runs from his four overs, while Arshdeep Singh was the only Indian bowler to keep his economy below 10.
Arshdeep also reached a personal milestone by claiming his 150th T20I wicket when he dismissed Mitchell Santner.
Duffy destroys India’s top order
India needed a strong start to stay in the contest. Instead, Duffy struck twice in the opening over.
He removed Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan to leave India in trouble. Abhishek Sharma tried to fight back after being dropped on eight. He struck a six and three boundaries before Matt Fisher ended his innings for 27.
Adam Milne then bowled Shreyas Iyer, leaving India at 56/4 inside the Powerplay. The required rate was already climbing rapidly.
Santner adds to India’s troubles
New Zealand continued to pick up wickets after the Powerplay. Mitchell Santner struck twice in the ninth over, dismissing Nitish Kumar Reddy and Axar Patel.
Naman Dhir offered some resistance with a quick 28 off 13 balls. However, Duffy returned to remove him with a sharp piece of boundary fielding involving Daryl Mitchell and Nathan Smith.
India slipped to 121/8 in the 12th over. Tilak Varma top-scored with 35, while Prince Yadav remained unbeaten on 18. The lower order managed to reduce the margin, but India never threatened the target.
Duffy finished with 4/23. Santner picked up two wickets, while Fisher also claimed two.
India’s winning run comes to an end
India finished on 172/9, losing by 87 runs. It was their second-heaviest defeat by runs in T20I cricket.
The result also ended India’s unbeaten run in New Zealand in the shortest format. The visitors had won their previous 10 T20Is in the country.
Phillips and Bracewell were the architects of New Zealand’s record total, while Duffy led the bowling attack. The hosts produced a complete performance to pull one back in the series.
IND vs NZ Brief scores
New Zealand: 259/7 in 20 overs (Glenn Phillips 107, Michael Bracewell 65; Mayank Yadav 3/48)
India: 172/9 in 20 overs (Tilak Varma 35, Naman Dhir 28; Jacob Duffy 4/23, Mitchell Santner 2/24, Matt Fisher 2/40)
IND vs NZ Result: New Zealand won by 87 runs.
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