Auckland: The script didn’t change at the toss, but the result was different.
New Zealand finally managed a big enough total to defend against India after Shreyas Iyer won the toss again and opted to bowl first in the fourth T20 International at the Eden Park here on Friday.
Powered by run-machine Glenn Phillips’ 49-ball 107 (6×4, 10×6) and Michael Bracewell’s 25-ball 65 (4×6, 10×4), New Zealand amassed a gigantic 259/7 in their allotted 20 overs. The lightning-quick 115-run partnership between Phillips and Bracewell took the wind out of India’s sails.
The dismissal of New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner, who was Arshdeep Singh’s 40th wicket of 2026 – a record for most T20I scalps in a calendar year – and the pacy Mayank Yadav’s 3/48 failed to deter the big-hitting Kiwi duo.
India, who had successfully chased down 230 in the second match of the series, found this one too high a mountain to climb.
Jacob Duffy (4/23) derailed the Indian chase by claiming the wickets of Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan – who returned to the playing XI at Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s expense — in the very first over.
Abhishek Sharma (27 off 15) was done in by the extra bounce of Matthew Fisher and skipper Shreyas Iyer (22 off 11) had his stumps rattled as he went for a legside swing off Adam Milne.
Tilak Varma top-scored with 35 but India were always well behind the huge asking rate.
BRIEF SCORES
New Zealand 259/7 in 20 overs (Glenn Phillips 107, Michael Bracewell 65; Mayank Yadav 3/48)
India 172/9 in 20 overs (Tilak Varma 35; Jacob Duffy 4/23).
Result: New Zealand won by 87 runs.
Player of the Match: Glenn Phillips.
Series position: India lead 3-1.
5th & final T20I: Nov 1 at Hamilton, from 12.30 pm IST.
