New Zealand defeated India by 87 runs in the fourth T20 International, powered by a blistering century from Glenn Phillips and a four-wicket haul from Jacob Duffy.
After winning the toss, India elected to bowl first. New Zealand initially struggled as Tim Seifert fell for three in the opening over, followed by Daryl Mitchell, who scored 24. Finn Allen contributed 31 runs, while Bevon Jacobs managed seven as New Zealand lost four wickets for 112 runs.
Phillips and Michael Bracewell then turned the innings around with a spectacular partnership for the fifth wicket. Phillips smashed 107 off 49 balls, while Bracewell hammered 65 from just 25 deliveries. Their 115-run stand helped New Zealand post a formidable total of 259 for seven in 20 overs.
Mayank Yadav led India’s bowling attack with three wickets, while Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav, Nitish Kumar and Axar Patel claimed one wicket each.
India Fall Short Despite Contributions From Top Order
Chasing 260 for victory, India managed 172 for nine in their allotted 20 overs, falling 87 runs short of the target.
Tilak Varma top-scored with 35 runs, while Naman Dhir made 28 and Abhishek Sharma contributed 27. Captain Shreyas Iyer scored 22, and Nitish Kumar added 21, but India could not build the partnerships required to keep the chase alive.
Jacob Duffy was the standout performer with the ball, taking four wickets. Matthew Fisher and Mitchell Santner claimed two wickets each, while Adam Milne took one.
India Retain Series Advantage
Despite the emphatic defeat, India had already secured the five-match series by winning the first three games. The fourth-match result gave New Zealand a strong performance to build on as the series approached its final contest.
Phillips’ explosive century and Duffy’s disciplined bowling proved decisive, giving New Zealand a memorable victory over the visitors.