Phillips, Bracewell Unleash Carnage as New Zealand Post Mammoth 259 Against India
Glenn Phillips' century and Michael Bracewell's blitz propel New Zealand to a mammoth 259/7 against India in the 4th T20I.
In a breathtaking display of power-hitting, New Zealand dismantled the Indian bowling attack to post a colossal 259/7 in the fourth T20I in Auckland. Led by a sensational century from Glenn Phillips and a rapid-fire half-century from Michael Bracewell, the Black Caps have set a daunting target of 260 for the visitors.
A Shaky Start and Early Recovery
After being put in to bat, New Zealand's innings began on a nervous note. Indian pacer Mayank Yadav struck early, removing opener Tim Seifert for just 3 runs in the very first over. While Yadav conceded 20 runs in his subsequent over, he quickly recovered his composure to dismiss Daryl Mitchell for 24, leaving the hosts struggling at 34/2.
However, the momentum shifted when Finn Allen joined Glenn Phillips. The pair launched a fierce counter-attack, propelling New Zealand to 67/2 by the end of the powerplay. Allen looked dangerous, smashing 31 off 17 balls with two fours and two sixes, before Axar Patel finally broke the stand.
The Phillips-Bracewell Blitz
The game reached a fever pitch after the halfway mark. With New Zealand at 109/3 following Mayank Yadav's dismissal of Bevon Jacobs for 7, Michael Bracewell walked out to join Glenn Phillips. What followed was one of the most brutal partnerships in T20 history.
Phillips and Bracewell stitched together a breathtaking 115-run partnership in just 40 deliveries, scoring at a staggering run rate of 16.82. This stand now holds the record as the highest-ever 100-plus partnership against India and the fourth-highest against any Full Member nation. The duo was particularly ruthless against Nitish Reddy and Mayank Yadav, plundering 52 runs from just two overs.
Phillips Reaches the Milestone
Even after Prince Yadav broke the partnership by dismissing Bracewell, who finished with a fluent 65 off 25 balls (strike rate 260.00), Phillips refused to slow down. He reached his magnificent century by launching Arshdeep Singh over the boundary for a massive six.
Phillips eventually departed in the final over, dismissed by Nitish Reddy for a blistering 107 off 49 balls, an innings decorated with 10 sixes and six fours.
A Historic Milestone Amidst the Mayhem
Despite the heavy runs conceded, there was a silver lining for India. Arshdeep Singh etched his name into the record books by claiming his 150th T20I wicket, dismissing Mitchell Santner on the final ball of his spell. With this achievement, Singh becomes the first Indian bowler to reach the 150-wicket milestone in the T20I format.
Indian Bowlers Under Pressure
The mammoth total of 259/7 highlights a worrying trend for the Indian bowling unit. In 2026, India has conceded 200-plus totals on 11 different occasions—the most by any team in a single calendar year in T20 cricket, surpassing the previous record of nine held by the Punjab Kings and Rajasthan Royals.
Bowling Summary:
- Mayank Yadav: 3 wickets
- Arshdeep Singh: 1 wicket
- Prince Yadav: 1 wicket
- Nitish Kumar Reddy: 1 wicket
- Axar Patel: 1 wicket
After India's dominance in the first three matches—where they successfully chased targets of 198, 180, and 225—New Zealand has responded with a powerhouse performance to turn the tide of the series.