Auckland, October 30, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
New Zealand handed India a taste of their own medicine as Glenn Phillips’ blistering century and Jacob Duffy’s four-wicket haul powered the hosts to a commanding 87-run victory in the fourth T20I at Eden Park on Friday.
Phillips smashed 107 off just 49 balls, while Michael Bracewell hammered 65 from 25 deliveries to propel New Zealand to a record-breaking total of 259/7. The hosts’ bowlers then delivered a disciplined performance to restrict India to 172 in the chase.
Despite the defeat, India retain an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match series, having won the first three encounters. Friday’s result marked New Zealand’s first victory in the ongoing T20I series.
New Zealand’s batters unleashed a relentless assault on the Indian bowling attack. Phillips and Bracewell stitched together a 115-run partnership off just 40 balls for the fifth wicket, taking the hosts to their highest-ever T20I total and the highest score by any team against India in the format.
Duffy led the bowling effort as India struggled to keep pace with the steep target. The visitors attempted to fight back but found it difficult to score boundaries consistently.
Duffy struck twice in the opening over, dismissing opener Sanju Samson for four and returning batter Ishan Kishan for a duck to put India on the back foot immediately. Abhishek Sharma, who scored 27, and Shreyas Iyer, who made 22, attempted to accelerate the scoring, but Abhishek miscued a shot to mid-off in the fifth over, giving Matthew Fisher his first wicket.
Shreyas soon followed, bowled by Adam Milne in the sixth over, leaving India struggling at 61/4 at the end of the powerplay.
Naman Dhir and Tilak Varma tried to rebuild the innings, with Naman contributing 28. However, Duffy struck again in the 12th over, as Naman was dismissed following an excellent relay catch by Daryl Mitchell and Nathan Smith near the deep mid-wicket boundary.
Duffy added another wicket when Arshdeep Singh was caught at deep point for a golden duck. Tilak was left to contend with the tailenders and managed a few boundaries, but India’s required run rate had climbed to nearly 25 runs per over even before the death overs, leaving the visitors with little hope of a recovery.
Tilak scored 35 off 35 balls before falling to Fisher in the penultimate over, giving the bowler his second wicket. Tilak skied the ball, and wicketkeeper Tim Seifert completed a well-judged running and diving catch.
Prince Yadav struck a boundary off an edge on the final ball of the 19th over and added a six in the last over, finishing unbeaten on 18. India ended their innings at 172, with Duffy claiming four wickets in an impressive display.
Earlier, New Zealand had put the contest beyond India’s reach with a stunning batting performance. Their total of 259/7 surpassed their previous highest T20I score of 254/5, recorded against Scotland four years ago. It also became the highest total by any team against India in the format, eclipsing England’s 257/3 in Southampton earlier this year.
The Indian bowlers endured a difficult outing as New Zealand’s batters attacked relentlessly, mirroring the dominance India have generally displayed against the Kiwis during the series.
Nitish Kumar Reddy conceded 32 runs in one over, while Axar Patel, Mayank Yadav and Prince Yadav also faced a sustained assault. Arshdeep Singh, however, reached a major milestone during the match, becoming the first Indian bowler to take 150 wickets in T20 internationals.
Mayank Yadav was India’s leading bowler, taking 3-48 in four overs on his return to the side. Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav and Nitish Kumar Reddy claimed one wicket each.
Brief Scores: New Zealand 259/7 in 20 overs (Glenn Phillips 107, Michael Bracewell 65; Mayank Yadav 3-48, Arshdeep Singh 1-38) beat India 172 (Tilak Varma 35, Naman Dhir 28; Jacob Duffy 4-23, Mitchell Santner 2-24) by 87 runs.
FOLLOW NOW
