After three consecutive defeats, New Zealand finally found its rhythm in Visakhapatnam as openers Tim Seifert (62 off 36) and Devon Conway (44 off 23) delivered a scintillating century partnership to set up a commanding 50-run victory.
The opening duo’s 111-run stand, New Zealand’s first 100+ partnership against India in T20Is since 2017, and their highest powerplay total (71/0) against India, laid the foundation for a competitive 215/7. India’s chase never gained momentum despite Shivam Dube’s explosive 65 off 23 balls, featuring a devastating 29-run over off Ish Sodhi.
However, Mitchell Santner’s economical spell of 4-0-26-3 dismantled India’s middle order, while Jacob Duffy claimed the final wicket to seal New Zealand’s consolation victory by 50 runs in 18.4 overs.
India vs New Zealand 4th T20I Match Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Venue | ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam |
| Toss | India won, elected to field |
| 1st Innings | New Zealand: 215/7 (20 overs) |
| 2nd Innings | India: 165 all out (18.4 overs) |
| Winner | New Zealand by 50 runs |
| Man of the Match | Tim Seifert |
| Best Bowler | Mitchell Santner (3/26) |
| Best Batsman | Tim Seifert (62 off 36) |
First Innings Highlight
New Zealand’s openers came out with aggressive intent from ball one, immediately putting India’s bowlers under pressure. Seifert set the tone by attacking Arshdeep Singh in the opening over, with a fortuitous top-edge flying over short third man for four.
He was particularly brutal against Harshit Rana, launching him for a towering 89-meter six over long-on and following it up with consecutive boundaries in the second over, which yielded 12 runs.
The powerplay assault continued as New Zealand raced to 71/0, their highest against India and the third-highest by any team against India on home soil. Seifert reached his fifty off just 25 balls (joint-fastest for New Zealand against India alongside Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor), while Conway found his groove particularly against spin, striking at an astonishing 257.14 with three massive sixes.
The partnership reached 111 in just 8.1 overs before Kuldeep Yadav finally broke through, deceiving Conway with a well-flighted delivery that was caught by Rinku Singh at deep cover.
The wicket triggered a mini-collapse as Bumrah trapped Rachin Ravindra with a clever caught-and-bowled in his second over, and New Zealand slipped from their commanding 111/0 to 128/3.
However, Daryl Mitchell produced a breathtaking late assault, hammering an incredible seven sixes in his 18-ball innings. His onslaught in the final overs, including a six off Bumrah and consecutive boundaries off Harshit Rana in the 20th over, ensured New Zealand posted their second-highest total against India in T20Is.
Mitchell Santner’s quickfire 11 off 6 balls further boosted the total before being run out by a direct hit from Hardik Pandya.
| Batsmen | Runs (Balls) | Bowlers | Figures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tim Seifert | 62 (36) [7 fours, 3 sixes] | Kuldeep Yadav | 2/39 |
| Devon Conway | 44 (23) [4 fours, 3 sixes] | Jasprit Bumrah | 1/38 |
| Daryl Mitchell | 39 (18) [1 four, 7 sixes] | Arshdeep Singh | 2/33 |
| Glenn Phillips | 24 (16) [3 fours, 1 six] | Harshit Rana | 0/54 |
Second Innings Highlight
India’s chase began in the worst possible fashion when Matt Henry struck with the very first ball, the second time he had dismissed an Indian opener off the first ball in this series. Abhishek Sharma’s attempted loft resulted in a magnificent diving catch by Devon Conway running in from deep backward point.
The situation worsened in the second over when Jacob Duffy produced a sensational caught-and-bowled to dismiss the in-form Suryakumar Yadav for just 8, leaving India reeling at 9/2. The pressure was immense as Sanju Samson and Rinku Singh attempted to rebuild, stitching together a 46-run partnership.
However, Mitchell Santner’s introduction in the 7th over proved decisive. The left-arm spinner immediately found his rhythm, deceiving Samson with a delivery that beat his outside edge and crashed into the stumps.
His wicket of Hardik Pandya (2) was even more impressive, a beautifully flighted delivery that caught the all-rounder early in his attempted lofted drive, with Zakary Foulkes taking a safe catch at backward point.
At 60/4 in the 9th over, enter Shivam Dube, the left-hander launched an extraordinary counter-attack, announcing his intentions with a monstrous 101-meter six off Santner. But it was the 12th over that will be remembered, Dube absolutely demolished Ish Sodhi for 29 runs, featuring four boundaries and two sixes, bringing India momentarily back into contention.
Dube reached his fifty in just 15 balls, the third-fastest for India in T20Is, and his strike rate of 340.00 (68 off 20 balls initially) was the second-highest for an Indian in a T20I innings of 50+ runs. The blitz continued as he raced to 65 off 23 balls with seven towering sixes.
In the 15th over, attempting a drive off Matt Henry, Harshit Rana’s mistimed shot brushed Henry’s fingers and deflected onto the stumps at the non-striker’s end. Dube, who had been backing up, was caught well short of his crease. The run-out triggered pin-drop silence in Visakhapatnam as India’s last realistic hope departed.
Rinku Singh provided some resistance with a fighting 39 off 30 balls, but the asking rate had climbed beyond reach. Santner struck again to dismiss Jasprit Bumrah, while Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana fell in quick succession. Jacob Duffy fittingly sealed the victory, dismissing Kuldeep Yadav in the 19th over to complete New Zealand’s first win of the series and avoid a whitewash.
| Batsmen | Runs (Balls) | Bowlers | Figures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shivam Dube | 65 (23) [3 fours, 7 sixes] | Mitchell Santner | 3/26 |
| Rinku Singh | 39 (30) [3 fours, 2 sixes] | Ish Sodhi | 2/46 |
| Sanju Samson | 24 (15) [3 fours, 1 six] | Jacob Duffy | 1/30 |
| Suryakumar Yadav | 8 (8) [2 fours] | Matt Henry | 1/13 |
