NZ vs IND: Arshdeep sets record but India concede 259, highest in T20Is

New Zealand took the Indian bowlers to the cleaners in the fourth T20I on Friday, making the most of the short boundaries at Auckland’s Eden Park. The Black Caps smashed 259 for 7 in 20 overs, posting the highest ever total against India in T20I cricket. Glenn Phillips was the star of the show, bringing up his third T20I hundred in just 45 deliveries. Scorecard | Update

India conceded 259 runs, including 20 sixes and 15 boundaries, the highest total they have allowed the opposition to post in a T20I. It was also the third time under Shreyas Iyer that India conceded 250 or more in the shortest format. Earlier this year, England were bowled out at 257 for 3 in Southampton, while the West Indies piled up 252 for 4 in Ranchi earlier this month. Incidentally, India had never conceded a total of 250 or more in a T20I before this year.

TOP 3 TOTALS MADE BY INDIA IN T20Is

– 259 for 7 vs New Zealand at Auckland – 2026

– 257 for 3 against England at Southampton – 2026

– 252 for 4 vs West Indies at Ranchi – 2026

ARSHDEEP REACHES 150 SPECIAL

Left-arm fast bowler Arshdeep Singh was the only Indian bowler to escape the wrath of the New Zealand batsmen. He conceded less than 10 runs in the over and took the wicket of captain Mitchell Santner. The dismissal took Arshdeep to 150 T20I wickets, making him the first Indian bowler and the ninth overall to reach the milestone.

Arshdeep also created a new record for the number of wickets taken by a bowler from a full member country in a calendar year in T20Is. He passed Ireland’s Josh Little, who scored 39 goals in 2022.

India took several positives from the bowling effort. Mayank Yadav impressed in the over, picking up two wickets before adding another to his tally with a crisp bouncer. The youngster, who replaced Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the playing XI in Auckland, consistently clocked speeds in excess of 140 kmph. However, he too took some punishment as he conceded 20 runs in his final over.

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PHILLIPS WILL BE BERSERK

Apart from Arshdeep and Mayank’s efforts, India had little to celebrate as their bowling attack struggled to contain Phillips and Michael Bracewell. The pair put together a scintillating partnership of 115 runs for the fifth wicket in just 40 deliveries, turning the competitive total into a daunting one.

After taking an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series, India won the toss for the fourth consecutive time and opted to bowl. The decision initially looked to be paying off as Mayank struck in the first to dismiss Tim Seifert before removing Daryl Mitchell in the second.

However, Phillips provided the impetus on the powerplay and continued his impressive run in the series. New Zealand raced to 67 for 2 at the end of the first six overs, with the right-hander taking over the Indian attack.

Finn Allen then shifted into gear in the eighth over, targeting Axar Patel and taking the left arm for two sixes and a boundary. However, the Delhi Capitals captain was able to stop the attack by dismissing the New Zealand opener.

New Zealand suffered another setback when Mayank produced a well-directed bouncer to dismiss Bevon Jacobs for 7 in the 11th over. At the end of the over, the visitors were 113 for 4, but India could not build on the momentum.

Phillips and Bracewell launched a stunning counter-attack and took the game away from the visitors. It started with part-time off-spinner Naman Dhir scoring 16 runs in the 12th over. Things got significantly worse when Nitish Kumar Reddy scored 32 in the 16th over. Phillips went after the SunRisers Hyderabad all-rounder and smashed him for four consecutive sixes in a brutal onslaught.

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Bracewell joined the carnage, taking on both spinners and pacers as he raced to a half-century off just 19 deliveries. The left-hander eventually finished with 65 off 25 balls before Prince Yadav brought his innings to an end with a well-executed yorker.

India managed to pull things back in the last three overs and restricted New Zealand to 33 runs during that period. However, the damage has already been done. The hosts plundered 146 runs in the last nine overs, leaving India with an imposing target of 260.

– The end