NZ vs IND 4th T20I: Phillips' Century and Duffy's Fire Power Kiwis to Massive 87-Run Win
New Zealand crushed India by 87 runs in the 4th T20I as Glenn Phillips smashed a century and Jacob Duffy tore through the batting lineup.
After being dominated for the first three matches of the series, New Zealand roared back to life in the fourth T20I in Auckland, dismantling India by 87 runs. A breathtaking century from Glenn Phillips and a lethal bowling spell by Jacob Duffy ensured the Black Caps claimed their first victory of the five-match series, bringing the scoreline to 3-1 in favor of India.
Phillips and Bracewell Set a Record-Breaking Total
Opting to bat first, New Zealand faced an early scare. Mayank Yadav struck early, removing Tim Seifert for just 3 in the opening over and later dismissing Daryl Mitchell for 24, leaving the hosts struggling at 34/2. However, the tide turned when Finn Allen and Glenn Phillips took charge of the innings.
Phillips produced a masterclass in power-hitting, slamming 107 runs off just 49 deliveries. His innings was a whirlwind of boundaries, featuring six fours and a staggering 10 sixes, played at a strike rate of 218.37. He found a perfect partner in Michael Bracewell, who played a blistering cameo of 65 runs off 25 balls, including four boundaries and six sixes.
Together, they propelled New Zealand to a massive 259/7 in their 20 overs—the highest total ever conceded by India in T20 cricket. This result highlights a worrying trend for the Indian bowling attack, which has conceded 200-plus totals 11 times in 2026, the highest by any team in a single calendar year in T20 history.
Duffy's Early Blitz Leaves India Reeling
Chasing a mammoth 260, India's hopes were dashed almost immediately. While Sanju Samson managed a boundary off the first ball, Jacob Duffy struck twice in the very first over, removing both Samson (4) and Ishan Kishan (0). India suddenly found themselves in a precarious position at 4/2 within the first six balls.
Captain Shreyas Iyer attempted to steady the ship with a few boundaries, scoring 22 off 11 balls, but Adam Milne ended his stay. Abhishek Sharma showed glimpses of aggression, hitting a six against Matthew Fisher, but he fell for 27 off 15 balls. By the end of the powerplay, India was struggling at 61/4.
The Middle-Order Collapse
The pressure mounted as Mitchell Santner entered the fray. Santner not only tightened the screws but also reached a significant milestone, completing 150 T20I wickets. He dismissed Nitish Kumar Reddy (21) and Axar Patel (7) in quick succession, leaving India reeling at 89/6.
Naman Dhir provided a brief respite with a quick-fire 28 off 13 balls, including two fours and two sixes, but his departure at the hands of Duffy triggered another collapse. Arshdeep Singh fell on the very next delivery, reducing India to 121/8.
The Final Stand
Tilak Varma fought a lonely battle, scoring 35 off 32 balls with three sixes, but he eventually fell to Fisher. India ended their innings at 172/9, with Prince Yadav (18*) and Mayank Yadav (3*) remaining unbeaten.
Bowling Highlights for New Zealand:
- Jacob Duffy: 4 wickets for 23 runs
- Mitchell Santner: 2 wickets for 24 runs
- Matthew Fisher: 2 wickets for 40 runs
Having chased down daunting targets of 198, 180, and 225 in the first three games, India's momentum was halted by a clinical New Zealand performance. The two teams now head into the final match of the series with India leading 3-1.