New Zealand Posts 259, Beats India by 87 Runs to Avoid Series Sweep
Glenn Phillips scored a century and Michael Bracewell added 65 off 25 balls as New Zealand posted its highest T20 total at Eden Park.
By Sofia Ramirez ·
New Zealand avoided a series sweep on Friday.
Chasing a target it set itself, New Zealand posted 259 for 7 at Eden Park in Auckland, its highest total in T20 cricket, and beat India by 87 runs in the fourth match of the series. Glenn Phillips reached a century and Michael Bracewell made 65 from 25 balls; the two added a century stand and hit 16 sixes between them. India reached 172 in reply and finished at 3-1 in the series.
New Zealand's innings began slowly. Rain fell intermittently through the day and the outfield played slow. Finn Allen was caught at third man off Mayank Yadav's first over, but the bowler had overstepped, so the wicket did not count. Tim Seifert then edged to Prince Yadav two balls later and New Zealand was in early trouble at the crease.
Daryl Mitchell hit back to back sixes off Mayank Yadav before falling lbw for 24 from nine balls. Phillips and Allen then put on 50 in the fifth over, with Phillips clearing the rope over backward square and Allen striking two sixes of his own. Allen was caught at deep cover off Axar Patel for his part in that stand.
Phillips reached his century with a six over long off. Bevon Jacobs made seven before he was out. Bracewell came in and reached 40 from 13 balls before Naman Dhir spilled a chance at long on, a miss that cost India. Bracewell and Phillips pushed the run rate past 12 and the total past 200 with four overs left. Bracewell was bowled for 65 off 25 balls, and Phillips was dismissed in the final over to a standing ovation from the crowd of 39,000.
India's chase ended before it started. Jacob Duffy took Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson in his first over. Abhishek Sharma and Shreyas Iyer put on 50 before Matt Fisher had Sharma caught by Mitch Santner, and Adam Milne bowled Sharma to leave India at 56 for 4. Mitchell Santner, bowling in the eighth over, took a wicket with his first ball and finished with six for the innings.
India batted out its 20 overs. Prince Yadav and Tilak Varma added 37 from 42 balls, a stand that drew chants of 'boring' from the remaining crowd. Varma was out in the 19th over. The final match of the series is scheduled for Sunday in Hamilton.
The result leaves New Zealand with a one day series starting Wednesday.
