Phillips hundred, Duffy’s 4 for 23 hand New Zealand an 87-run win over India in the fourth T20I; series now 3-1

New Zealand halted India’s run in style, beating the series winners by 87 runs in the fourth T20I at Eden Park, Auckland, on 30 October. Put in after Shreyas Iyer won the toss, New Zealand made 259 for 7, and India, chasing 260, were held to 172 for 9 in their 20 overs. India’s lead in the five-match series is now 3-1.

Phillips takes charge

Mayank Yadav removed Tim Seifert and Daryl Mitchell early, but Glenn Phillips quickly swung the match. He reached his hundred in 46 balls, the joint second-fastest T20I century against India, and finished with 107 off 49 including 10 sixes and 6 fours. Michael Bracewell added 65 off 25. Phillips was named Player of the Match. Andhra all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy finally removed him in the last over.

Duffy wrecks the chase

India’s chase was in trouble from the first over, when Jacob Duffy removed Sanju Samson for 4 and Ishan Kishan for a duck. Abhishek Sharma (27 off 15), Nitish Kumar Reddy (21 off 10) and Naman Dhir (28) got starts, but none of them, nor captain Shreyas Iyer, went on. Hyderabad’s Tilak Varma top-scored with 35, by which time the target was well out of reach. Duffy finished with 4 for 23, and captain Mitchell Santner also struck at key moments.

One match left

It is India’s first defeat of the series after three straight wins. With the trophy already secured, India will want to finish 4-1 in the fifth and final T20I on Sunday, while New Zealand will look to build on this win and close the series at 3-2.