Christchurch, October 24, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Half-centuries from Glenn Phillips and Bevon Jacobs helped New Zealand recover from an early collapse and post 180/5 in the second T20I of the five-match series against India at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Saturday.
New Zealand were struggling at 41/3 after 5.2 overs when Phillips and Jacobs joined forces to produce a match-changing 116-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Phillips scored 70 off 43 balls, while Jacobs contributed 58 off 46 deliveries, giving the hosts a strong platform after India’s bowlers had dominated the early exchanges.
Playing on the same pitch that hosted the opening T20I, the second match offered more assistance to the bowlers, with the used surface making it difficult for batters to play freely against hard lengths.
India made an excellent start, using disciplined bowling in the powerplay to reduce New Zealand to 43/3. Arshdeep Singh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Prince Yadav picked up a wicket each as the visitors kept the hosts under pressure.
Arshdeep struck in the second over, dismissing Tim Seifert after the batter miscued an aggressive shot that Tilak Varma caught at cover.
Bhuvneshwar, making his return to the Indian side, claimed his first wicket in the following over. He removed Daryl Mitchell for six after the New Zealand batter edged a delivery that Tilak caught at extra cover.
Prince then bowled Finn Allen in the final over of the powerplay, leaving the hosts in a difficult position.
Phillips and Jacobs responded with a determined rebuilding effort, rotating the strike and capitalising on loose deliveries. Their 116-run stand came off 76 balls and marked New Zealand’s highest partnership for the fourth or a lower wicket against India in T20 internationals, surpassing the previous record of 99 runs shared by Tim Seifert and Ross Taylor at Mount Maunganui in 2020.
The pair gradually increased the scoring rate despite assistance from the surface for India’s spinners Axar Patel and Naman Dhir.
Their 50-run partnership came off 43 balls before the batters began attacking more aggressively. Axar conceded 11 runs in the 15th over, Bhuvneshwar was hit for 18 in the next, and Prince gave away 12 in the 17th over.
Phillips brought up his half-century off 33 balls, making it consecutive fifties after his performance in the opening match. Jacobs reached his fifty off 40 deliveries. India captain Shreyas Iyer had earlier dropped Jacobs off Prince’s bowling in the 11th over.
India eventually broke the partnership in the 18th over when Arshdeep dismissed Phillips, who was caught by Naman Dhir at deep point.
Nitish Kumar Reddy then removed Jacobs, who was caught at long-off by Axar Patel off a full toss. Jacobs’ dismissal ended New Zealand’s hopes of a late surge built around the partnership.
Michael Bracewell joined captain Mitchell Santner and struck a couple of boundaries to help New Zealand finish at 180/5 in their 20 overs.
Arshdeep was India’s leading wicket-taker, finishing with figures of 2/33 in four overs. Bhuvneshwar, Prince and Nitish also claimed a wicket each.
Brief Scores: New Zealand 180/5 in 20 overs (Glenn Phillips 70, Bevon Jacobs 58; Arshdeep Singh 2/33, Prince Yadav 1/30) against India.
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