In a thrilling high-scoring encounter at Raipur’s Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium, India crushed New Zealand by 7 wickets in the second T20I on Friday, taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series. While the Indian batters scripted a record chase, the match will be remembered for New Zealand pacer Jack Foulkes’ nightmare spell that etched an unwanted milestone in T20 history.
The 23-year-old rising star, touted as one of New Zealand’s brightest fast bowling prospects, endured a day to forget. Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav tore into him mercilessly, propelling Foulkes to become the most expensive bowler for New Zealand in a T20 match. In just 3 overs, he leaked 67 runs without claiming a single wicket, surpassing Ben Wheeler’s previous record of 64 runs in 3.1 overs against Australia in 2018.
Foulkes’ ordeal began in the third over of India’s innings, where he conceded 24 runs including a no-ball and three wides. Returning for the ninth over, he was hammered for 25 runs with four boundaries and a six. His third over in the 14th wasn’t any kinder, yielding 18 more runs via two fours and a six. This catastrophic spell not only shattered the Kiwi record but also stands as the costliest 3-over stint in T20 cricket.
New Zealand, batting first after losing the toss, posted a formidable 208/6 in 20 overs. India, however, chased it down in just 15.2 overs, finishing at 209/3 – the fastest successful chase of a 200-plus total in T20Is. Kishan’s explosive start and Yadav’s masterful innings sealed a comprehensive victory, leaving New Zealand’s bowlers shell-shocked.
As the series progresses, Foulkes will look to bounce back, but this Raipur debacle serves as a stark reminder of T20’s brutal unpredictability. For India, it’s another dominant performance underscoring their white-ball prowess ahead of the decider.