Phillips' 49-Ball 107 and Record 259/7 Power New Zealand to 87-Run Win Over India in 4th T20I

New Zealand beat India by 87 runs in the fourth T20I at Eden Park in Auckland on Friday, October 30. They posted 259 for 7 and then bowled India out for 172 for 9. It was New Zealand's first win of the five-match series. India still lead 3-1.

India won the toss and chose to bowl. That decision backfired. Glenn Phillips smashed 107 off 49 balls, with 6 fours and 10 sixes. It was his third T20I century. It also equalled his own mark for the joint-fastest hundred by a New Zealander, which came off 46 balls. Michael Bracewell hit 65 off just 25 balls, with 4 fours and 6 sixes. The two put on 115 runs in 40 balls for the fifth wicket.

New Zealand's total is their highest ever in T20Is. It beats their previous best of 254 for 5 against Scotland four years ago. It is also the highest total ever scored against India. England's 257 for 3 in Southampton earlier this year was the old mark. It is also the biggest T20I total at Eden Park. New Zealand scored 67 runs in the powerplay and ran along at nearly 13 an over.

Mayank Yadav was India's best bowler with 3 for 48. He dismissed Tim Seifert, Daryl Mitchell and Bevon Jacobs. Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav, Axar Patel and Nitish Kumar Reddy took one wicket each. Arshdeep's wicket was his 150th in T20Is. Reddy was the most expensive bowler, giving away 64 runs in his four overs.

India needed 260 and started badly. Jacob Duffy bowled the first over and took two wickets. Sanju Samson fell for 4. Ishan Kishan was caught and bowled for a duck. India were 4 for 2 after just five balls. Abhishek Sharma made 27 off 15 balls and put on 46 with Shreyas Iyer. Both fell soon after. Iyer scored 22 before Adam Milne bowled him.

The chase never recovered. India were 89 for 6 in the ninth over and 121 for 8 in the 12th. Tilak Varma top-scored with 35 off 35 balls, but the slow rate hurt India. Naman Dhir hit 28 off 13 balls. Prince Yadav was unbeaten on 18. Duffy finished with 4 for 23. Mitchell Santner took 2 for 24 and Matthew Fisher took 2 for 40.

India had already won the series 3-0 before this game, so the result changes little in the standings. The fifth and final T20I is on Sunday, November 1, at Seddon Park in Hamilton. The five-match ODI series then starts on Wednesday, November 4, at Eden Park.