Visakhapatnam witnessed New Zealand’s batting blitz as they hammered India by 50 runs in the fourth T20I, snapping a three-match losing streak. The 215/7 total, powered by a record-breaking opening stand, overwhelmed India, who managed 165 despite Shivam Dube’s pyrotechnics.
Losing the toss but winning the game, Kiwis saw Devon Conway (44 off 23) and Tim Seifert (62 off 36) plunder 100 runs in 8.2 overs – fastest ever vs India at home in T20s. Phillips (24) and unbeaten Mitchell (39 off 18) elevated the score. India’s Arshdeep, Kuldeep (2 wickets apiece), Bumrah, Bishnoi responded.
India’s reply: golden duck for Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav gone for 8. A 46-run alliance between Rinku Singh (39 off 30) and Sanju Samson (24 off 15) offered respite, but 82/5 spelled doom.
Shivam Dube stole the show with 65 off 23 (7 sixes, 3 fours), achieving India’s third-fastest T20I fifty via a 63-run stand with Rana (9). Run out at the cusp of victory, he couldn’t save the day. NZ bowlers: Santner 3/34, Duffy & Sodhi 2 each, Henry & Foulkes 1.
Series at 3-1 to India, finale on Jan 31 in Trivandrum promises fireworks.