IND vs NZ: Glenn Phillips smashes 107 as New Zealand post record 259
Web StoryWatch this story in 15 seconds →Key takeaways
- New Zealand made 259 for 7 in the 4th T20I at Eden Park on Friday. It is the highest T20I total any team has ever scored against India.
- Glenn Phillips hit 107 off 49 balls, his third T20I hundred. Michael Bracewell added 65 off just 25 balls.
- India won the toss and chose to bowl first. India need 260 runs to win, the biggest target they have ever faced in this format.
New Zealand broke three records at Eden Park on Friday. They posted 259 for 7 against India in the 4th T20I.
What happened
India won the toss. Captain Shreyas Iyer chose to bowl first. He won the toss for the fourth straight match in this series.
India already lead the series three matches to none.
The tour began in Christchurch earlier this month, where India took the early lead.
Glenn Phillips was the star of the day. He came out to bat in the third over. He reached his fifty off 31 balls.
Then he sped up. He hit four sixes in a row off Nitish Kumar Reddy. That over cost India 32 runs.
Phillips reached his hundred off just 46 balls. It is the joint second-fastest hundred by a New Zealand batter. It was his third T20I century.
No New Zealand batter had scored a T20I hundred against India at home before. His final score was 107 from 49 balls. He hit six fours and ten sixes.
Michael Bracewell played a key role too. He smashed 65 off only 25 balls. He reached his fifty in just 19 balls.
That is the joint second-fastest fifty against India in T20Is. He hit four fours and six sixes.
Phillips and Bracewell added 115 runs off just 40 balls. Their stand turned a big total into a record one.
Earlier, Finn Allen made 31 off 17 balls. Daryl Mitchell hit a quick 24 off 9 balls. Tim Seifert fell early for 3.
Mayank Yadav was India's best bowler. He took three wickets. Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Axar Patel took one wicket each.
Why it matters
The total broke three records at once. It is the highest T20I total against India. The old record was England's 257 for 3 at Southampton in July this year.
It is also New Zealand's highest T20I total. Their old best came against Scotland in 2022: 254 for 5.
It is also the highest T20I total ever made at Eden Park.
Phillips had a night full of records too. He now holds the record for most runs in a T20I series against India. He has scored 276 runs in four games.
He broke Shai Hope's record of 261 runs. He is also the third batter with three T20I hundreds at number four or lower.
India got a lucky break too late. Naman Dhir dropped Phillips on 57.
The drop cost India dearly. Phillips made 50 more runs after that.
Arshdeep Singh reached a big landmark. He became the fastest fast bowler to take 150 T20I wickets. He did it in 2,143 balls bowled.
Only Wanindu Hasaranga and Rashid Khan got there quicker among all bowlers. Arshdeep also set a yearly record with 40 T20I wickets in 2026.
What happens next
India face the chase now. They need 260 runs from 20 overs. That is nearly 13 runs per over.
India have already won the series 3-0. But this match matters for pride. New Zealand want to prove they can beat the series winners.
Before the match, Shreyas Iyer said his team would fight hard. He told reporters his side would leave no stone unturned. He said it is vital to stay ruthless no matter the results, according to Sportskeeda.
The 5th and final T20I comes next. New Zealand will want to carry this batting form into that game. India will want to end the tour with a win.
India's 4th T20I against West Indies in Hyderabad was another run-fest this month. This explainer shows how one side of a cricket ball shines through a match.
Bracewell summed up the mood in his own words. He told broadcasters at the innings break that Phillips is a real character and entertainer. He said it is a privilege to watch him bat like that.
For beginners watching this series: a T20I gives each team 20 overs to score. A hundred is 100 runs by one batter. Phillips reached his in 46 balls.
That means he scored at more than two runs per ball. That is very fast cricket.
The chase is live on Sony Sports Network channels and the SonyLIV app in India. Fans everywhere are asking one question now. Can India chase 260 against this New Zealand attack?
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