Duffy Outshines Boult: New Zealand Pacer Smashes Record Against India
Jacob Duffy registers the best bowling figures by a New Zealand pacer against India during a dominant T20I win in Auckland.
In a spectacular display of pace and precision, New Zealand bowler Jacob Duffy has etched his name into the record books by registering the best bowling figures by a Kiwi pacer against India. During the fourth T20I at Eden Mark, Duffy delivered a lethal spell that dismantled the Indian batting lineup, securing a massive victory for the Black Caps.
A Record-Breaking Spell
Jacob Duffy's clinical performance saw him claim 4 wickets for just 23 runs in his allotted four overs. In doing so, he surpassed the previous benchmark set by the legendary Trent Boult, who had held the record with figures of 4/34 during a match in Rajkot back in 2017.
Duffy's impact was felt immediately. Defending a mountainous target of 260, he provided New Zealand with two early breakthroughs in the very first over, removing both Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan. Just as India attempted to build momentum, Duffy struck again with back-to-back wickets, dismissing the in-form Naman Dhir and Arshdeep Singh to derail the chase completely.
Dominance in Auckland
The victory was fueled by a historic batting effort from New Zealand. Glenn Phillips played a blistering knock, smashing 107 runs off just 49 balls, including six fours and ten towering sixes. He was ably supported by Michael Bracewell, who contributed a rapid 65 off 25 balls (four boundaries and six sixes).
Together, they propelled New Zealand to a staggering 259/7 in 20 overs, which now stands as the highest total ever recorded against India. The Indian batting side struggled to keep pace with the required rate and were eventually skittled for 172 runs. Tilak Varma was the lone warrior for India, scoring 35 off 35 balls.
The Bowling Attack
While Duffy was the star of the show, the rest of the bowling unit played their part in the 87-run win:
- Jacob Duffy: 4/23
- Mitchell Santner: 2/24
- Matthew Fisher: 2/40
Duffy's Rising Legacy
This performance further cements Jacob Duffy's position as a key asset for New Zealand. Across 51 T20Is, he has claimed 67 wickets at an impressive average of 20.35. With six four-wicket hauls to his name, he is currently tied with Adam Milne as the joint sixth-highest wicket-taker in T20Is for the Black Caps.
In the current calendar year, Duffy has been consistent, taking 14 wickets in 13 T20Is at an average of 32.85, with this 4/23 spell being his best performance of the year.
Despite this emphatic win, India maintains a lead in the five-match series, with the scoreline standing at 3-1 as the teams head into the final encounter.