VISAKHAPATNAM – New Zealand finally broke their duck in the T20I series against India, clinching a commanding 50-run victory in the fourth match at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium on Wednesday. Despite the loss, India remains firmly in control of the five-match series with a 3-1 lead.
Opting to bat first after losing the toss, New Zealand’s openers Devon Conway and Tim Seifert unleashed mayhem. They forged a blistering 100-run partnership in just 8.2 overs – the fastest ever against India on home soil in T20Is. Conway smashed 44 off 23 balls, laced with 3 sixes and 4 fours, before Seifert carried on with a gutsy 62 from 36 deliveries, featuring 3 sixes and 7 boundaries.
Glenn Phillips chipped in with 24, while Daryl Mitchell’s unbeaten 39 off 18 balls propelled the Kiwis to a mammoth 215/7. India’s bowlers fought back with Arshdeep Singh and Kuldeep Yadav grabbing 2 wickets each, and Jasprit Bumrah along with Ravi Bishnoi picking one apiece.
Chasing 216, India’s innings crumbled spectacularly. They lost Abhishek Sharma for a golden duck on the first ball, followed by skipper Suryakumar Yadav for 8. Rinku Singh and Sanju Samson briefly steadied the ship with a 46-run stand, but the hosts were reeling at 82/5 soon after.
Shivam Dube’s explosive 65 off 23 balls – including 7 sixes and 3 fours – marked the third-fastest T20I fifty by an Indian. He fell short of glory, run out, as India folded for 165 in 18.4 overs. Mitchell Santner starred with 3/34 for New Zealand, supported by Jacob Duffy and Ish Sodhi’s 2 wickets each.
With one match left in Thiruvananthapuram on January 31, India eyes a series whitewash, but New Zealand’s firepower sends a strong warning.