Hamilton, November 1, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
New Zealand opener Tim Seifert was left disappointed after missing his maiden international century by just seven runs in the fifth and final T20I against India, but said the series-ending victory remained his biggest satisfaction.
Seifert struck 93 off 50 deliveries at Seddon Park on Sunday as New Zealand chased down India’s 192-run target with seven wickets and 12 balls to spare, securing a seven-wicket win in the final match. India, however, took the five-match series 3-2.
The opener had endured a difficult run earlier in the series, registering single-digit scores in each of the first four matches. He made the most of a reprieve after being dropped on 13 before falling at 93, bowled by a back-of-length delivery from Nitish Kumar Reddy.
Speaking after the match, Seifert joked that the wait for his first international hundred continued.
“The main thing is to win. But at the same time, that monkey’s still on my back for getting my first international 100. So you’re still a little bit devastated about that,” he said.
He added that he hoped he would not have to wait another 95 matches for a similar opportunity.
Seifert also stressed the importance of adapting to different playing conditions rather than attempting to force an aggressive approach in every situation. He said batters needed to assess the pitch and choose high-percentage shots, noting that conditions in India and New Zealand could be very different.
The New Zealand opener also praised teammate Glenn Phillips, who finished the series with a record 341 runs, the highest tally by any batter in a bilateral five-match T20I series.
Seifert said Phillips had shown the value of building an innings before accelerating, praising his ability to identify favourable match-ups and maintain momentum through the innings.
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