New Zealand Dominates India with a Stunning 244-Run Win in Fourth ODI

In a stunning display, New Zealand defeated India by 244 runs in the fourth ODI at Mount Maunganui. Matt Henry's exceptional six-wicket haul led to India's batting collapse, leaving them all out for just 89 runs while chasing a target of 334. Indian captain Shreyas Iyer acknowledged the challenges posed by Henry's bowling and the difference in batting conditions. With this victory, New Zealand has narrowed India's series lead to 2-1, setting the stage for an exciting final match. Iyer emphasized the need for the team to learn from this defeat and approach the next game with renewed confidence.

By Narendra Chaudhary Nov 13, 2026, 17:25 IST

New Zealand's Remarkable Victory

Mount Maunganui [New Zealand], November 13: In a remarkable display of cricket, New Zealand defeated India by a staggering 244 runs in the fourth ODI match held at Mount Maunganui. The Indian team was bowled out for a mere 89 runs while chasing a target of 334 runs. Matt Henry was the standout performer for New Zealand, achieving an impressive six-wicket haul, which included three wickets in the very first over, leading to a swift collapse of the Indian batting lineup.

Indian Captain's Reflection

Following the match, Indian captain Shreyas Iyer acknowledged the brilliance of Henry's bowling and noted the stark contrast in batting conditions between the two innings. He remarked, "There was a significant difference in the conditions during the first and second innings regarding wickets. Credit goes to Henry for consistently bowling in the right areas from the start. His performance was exceptional."

Key Performances from New Zealand

Will Young played a pivotal role with a fluent century, scoring 125 runs off 108 balls. Alongside him, Matt Henry's career-best ODI figures of 6/27 set a formidable tone for the match. Additional contributions came from Tim Seifert, who scored 58 runs off 48 balls, and Finn Allen, who added 41 runs off 30 balls, helping New Zealand reach a formidable total of 333 runs.

India's Struggles and Future Outlook

Iyer expressed that India experimented with various bowling strategies but struggled against New Zealand's aggressive batting. He admitted that dropped catches were detrimental to India's performance, while also commending New Zealand's disciplined bowling, stating that India's dismissals were primarily due to quality deliveries rather than careless mistakes. He noted, "We attempted nearly everything in the first innings, but their batting was on the rise. We believed the pitch was favorable for batting, especially after they scored 330. A few dropped catches occurred, which is part of the game. However, when we returned to the dressing room, we felt confident about our chase. The ball was seaming unpredictably, making it hard to decide on a batting approach. No one threw their wicket away; they were simply good deliveries."

Looking Ahead

This decisive victory has narrowed India's series lead to 2-1 as they head into the final match on Sunday. Iyer emphasized the importance of moving past this heavy defeat, analyzing the team's shortcomings in both batting and bowling, and drawing confidence from their previous two victories. He urged the team to adopt a fresh mindset for the concluding match of the series, stating, "It's crucial to forget this loss and assess what went wrong in our bowling and batting. However, we must also remember that we have won two games, which should inspire us to approach the next match with a renewed perspective."