New Zealand Triumphs Over India in Fourth T20I Match

In an exciting fourth T20I match, New Zealand triumphed over India by 87 runs, marking their first win in the series. Glenn Phillips' century and Michael Bracewell's explosive innings were pivotal in setting a challenging target of 260 runs. Jacob Duffy's exceptional bowling performance further restricted India, who were bowled out for 172. With this victory, New Zealand has narrowed India's lead to 3-1 in the five-match series, setting the stage for a thrilling final match.

By Narendra Chaudhary Oct 30, 2026, 18:35 IST

New Zealand Claims Victory Against India

In a remarkable display, New Zealand's captain Mitchell Santner commended his team's bowling performance and the impactful innings from Michael Bracewell and Jacob Duffy after they secured an 87-run win over India in the fourth T20I at Auckland's Eden Park. This victory marked New Zealand's first in the five-match series, narrowing India's lead to 3-1.

Outstanding Batting and Setting a Challenging Target

Glenn Phillips delivered an impressive performance, scoring 107 runs off 49 balls, while Michael Bracewell contributed 65 runs from just 25 balls. Together, they propelled New Zealand to a formidable total of 259/7, their highest T20I score against India. The pair formed a rapid 115-run partnership in just 40 balls. In response, India struggled and was bowled out for 172, with Tilak Varma being the top scorer at 35.

Bowling Strategy and Execution

Jacob Duffy spearheaded New Zealand's bowling attack, achieving figures of 4/23, while both Mitchell Santner and Matthew Fisher took two wickets each. Santner reflected on the match, noting that the bowlers executed their strategies effectively, maintaining disciplined lines and lengths while adapting their tactics during the powerplay. He emphasized the importance of early wickets, particularly Duffy's effective hard lengths that restricted India significantly. India found themselves at 61/4 early on, with Duffy claiming the wickets of Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan in the first over.

"Scoring 260 is impressive, but it requires excellent bowling against a strong team like India, and I believe we achieved that. We started strong, and our lengths were spot on tonight. The early wickets were crucial during the powerplays, and we managed to mix things up effectively," Santner stated.

Bracewell's Key Contributions

Santner also praised Bracewell for his explosive innings of 65 runs off just 25 balls, which significantly contributed to New Zealand's total of 259/7 following Phillips' century. "His aggressive approach from the outset was vital, pushing our score from a solid 220 to an impressive 260, especially with Glenn's performance. It's great to see Bracewell performing well, as he has been hitting well in the nets," he remarked.

This victory for New Zealand came after India had dominated the first three matches of the series, successfully chasing down targets of 199, 181, and 226. The outcome now leaves India's lead at 3-1, with one final T20I match remaining.