Although India had already claimed the series trophy by winning the first three matches, their attempt to complete a white-wash in the fourth T20 in Auckland was thwarted. The hosts delivered a dominant performance at Eden Park, setting a record-breaking total of 259/7, which ultimately led to an 87-run victory over India.
New Zealand surpassed the previous record for the highest T20 total against India, which was set by England with 257 runs in Southampton earlier this year. The standout performance came from Glenn Phillips, who smashed 107 runs off just 49 balls, featuring six fours and ten sixes. He was well-supported by Michael Bracewell, who hammered 65 runs off 25 balls with four fours and six sixes. The duo combined for a explosive 115-run partnership in just 41 balls.
India’s chase began poorly, losing Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan within the first over. Despite efforts from Abhishek Sharma, who scored 27, and Shreyas Iyer, who added 22, the team could not recover. Late contributions from Tilak Varma (35) and Naman Dhir (28) only managed to narrow the deficit as India concluded their innings at 172/9.
Match Statistics
- New Zealand: 259/7 in 20 overs (Phillips 107, Bracewell 65; Mayank 3/48)
- India: 172/9 in 20 overs (Tilak 35, Naman 28; Jacob Duffy 4/23)
- Result: New Zealand won by 87 runs
