New Zealand returned to winning ways, defeating India by 87 runs in the fourth T20I at Eden Park in Auckland on Friday, October 30. After losing three games in a row, the Black Caps managed to pull one back in the five-match series.
The Kiwis played with great freedom in this encounter, knowing that the series has already slipped out of their hands. Finn Allen and Daryl Mitchell played entertaining knocks at the top of the order but couldn't build on their starts. Tim Seifert and Bevon Jacobs were dismissed for single-digit scores but Glenn Phillips and Michael Bracewell all but batted India out of the contest with a phenomenal partnership of 115 in 40 balls.
Phillips went on to score 107 off just 49 balls, getting dismissed in the 20th over. Bracewell had an even better strike rate during his 25-ball stay at the crease, where he amassed 65 runs. India did pick up a few wickets at the latter stages of the innings but the Kiwis managed to get to a mammoth total of 259/7.
Chasing the daunting target, India lost Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan in the first over as Jacob Duffy was on fire. Abhishek Sharma and Shreyas Iyer tried to resurrect the innings but none of them could convert their starts into substantial scores.
Axar Patel fell cheaply before Nitish Kumar Reddy and Naman Dhir threw their bats around and found a few boundaries. However, their brief cameos could only delay the inevitable. Tilak Varma scored a run-a-ball 35 before getting out in the penultimate over. Prince Yadav finished unbeaten on 18 as India finished on 172/9.
NZ vs IND: Talking Points
1. Glenn Phillips continues red-hot form after minor blip in 3rd T20I
Glenn Phillips has been in stunning form with the bat in the series so far. In the first two encounters, he scored remarkable half-centuries but couldn't get to a three-figure score. The third T20I saw him getting out for a 14-ball 17. However, he showcased his batting prowess on Friday, amassing 107 off 49 balls, belting six fours and 10 sixes.
2. Ishan Kishan disappoints on return from injury after replacing Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
Ishan Kishan returned to the playing XI after missing the last two matches due to a low-grade right adductor strain. He replaced Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who had scored 45 off 19 balls in the last game. The wicketkeeper-batter was out caught and bowled by Jacob Duffy in the first over.
3. Jacob Duffy dismantles Indian batting unit
Jacob Duffy bowled a remarkable first over to set the tone for New Zealand in the second innings. He dismissed two in-form batters in Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan. The right-arm pacer came back later in the innings and got the better of Naman Dhir and Arshdeep Singh. Duffy finished with figures of 4/23 in four overs, the best for New Zealand against India in T20Is.
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NZ vs IND: Who Said What?
Shreyas Iyer, India Captain:
[Thoughts on the performance tonight] Yeah, absolutely. I think we fell a bit short in our bowling to start with. Powerplay, especially in the third over, they got that momentum from there on, and yeah, couple of bowlers, they tried to squeeze in, but I think exceptional knock by Glenn. Some phenomenal shots, which were like pure bliss. So kudos to him. He's been consistent throughout the series, so lot to learn from him. [Assessment of the bowling performance and plans for the next match] Yes, absolutely. I feel that it's important to retrospect, see where we can actually bounce back, coming into Hamilton and just a day off. So I personally feel that we can probably go back to the drawing board and see to it we analyse and try to execute to the best of our abilities in the next game. [How you adapt to the different conditions, and what are the conversations like in and around?] Conversation was just that we knew that the dimensions are going to be like this, and some of them, it's their first time playing on such grounds. So it takes a bit of time for them to adapt to the challenge. It's not that easy, I understand that, but the way they executed the first three games, it was magnificent, and yeah, this is just a learning curve, I feel, that next time when they come here, they would probably have a better idea on how to go about their business. So a great learning curve, and hopefully we come back positive in the next game.
Mitchell Santner, New Zealand Captain:
[On the improved performance and the victory] Yeah, obviously, another lost toss, but I think with the wind, it didn't dew up as much tonight. Obviously 260 is a good score, but you have to bowl well against these guys, and I think we did. [On whether there was a conscious effort to be more aggressive throughout the innings] Yeah, I think we summed up the pitch. We saw a couple fly through at the start and then you stick to those lengths. The boys bashed away nicely and we were able to take wickets at the start, which is obviously a massive thing in the powerplays. But I think our lengths, our lines were really good tonight, and there's obviously a little bit in the wicket. That's kind of what we wanted for most of the games. So, I think when we get it right on a wicket that bounces nicely, it's going good. [On Bracewell's contribution] Yeah, the way he came out from the start, obviously we were in a pretty good position, but from ball one to keep going, and that pushes that score from a 220, which is still a good score, to 260, obviously with Glenn going as well. But yeah, it's nice to see Beast (Bracewell) get some runs because he's been striking in the nets. [On the bowling performance] Yeah, pretty happy. It's a tough ground. We've made them take some tough options down the ground off heavy lengths, and a couple went up, which was nice, and then a couple dropped catches again, but it's tight in there, swirling. Mine wasn't too hard. But yeah, very happy. And, I think we were able to change it up. Obviously, mixed it up in the powerplay, and guys coming in one-over spells. But being on the money straightaway and then Duff obviously nailing hard length again too to start is a great start.
Glenn Phillips, Player of the Match:
[On his batting performance] Yeah, it was fabulous. Obviously it was a really good pitch to bat on out there today, and I think we made the most of it, which was fantastic. And yeah, obviously nice to get a few and contribute to the lads. [Partnership with Michael Bracewell] I think we really just talked about the fact that the wind from this end was probably the easier end to go from, but obviously the way Beast (Bracewell) hits, that doesn't really matter which end he goes from, and to be able to take that momentum, especially when it was sort of like a knife-edge part of the game, for us to take it effectively away from India like that was fantastic. [Batting approach and changes in his innings over the last six months to a year] I think sometimes it's just ebbs and flows of the game. You see the ball well and you see the ball badly at other times of the year, so I think it's just trying to make that purple patch last as long as possible and just try and make one nice decision as much as I can. [Hamstring concern and decision to limit his fielding involvement] Yeah, it's feeling alright. Hopefully nothing too major. Probably more on the precautionary end than anything else. We've got a massive summer coming up ahead, and obviously I don't necessarily do anything at less than 100%, and it just wasn't worth the risk tonight.
