From 3-0 to 87-run defeat! Phillips shatters India's clean sweep dream

30 Oct 2026, 04:40 PM 4 min read

NEW DELHI: India's hopes of completing a clean sweep against New Zealand came to an end after the Shreyas Iyer-led side suffered an embarrassing 87-run defeat in the fourth T20I at Eden Park in Auckland on Friday.India had already taken an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series and were looking for another win. However, a record-breaking batting performance from Glenn Phillips and Michael Bracewell helped New Zealand pull off a massive victory.After winning the toss, India decided to bowl first.

But the decision proved costly as the hosts smashed 259/7 in 20 overs, their highest-ever total in T20Is.Chasing the mammoth target, India managed only 172/9 in their 20 overs.Phillips, Bracewell smash India bowlersPhillips led New Zealand's batting charge with a brilliant 107 off just 49 balls. He hit six fours and 10 sixes to register his third T20I century. Bracewell was equally destructive, smashing 65 off just 25 deliveries.

The duo added 115 runs for the fifth wicket in just 40 balls to put New Zealand in a commanding position.Finn Allen also made a quick 31 off 17 balls, while Daryl Mitchell contributed 24 off just nine deliveries.New Zealand's 259/7 was their highest-ever T20I total, going past their previous best of 254/5 against Scotland four years ago. It was also the highest total by any team against India in the format, surpassing England's 257/3 in Southampton earlier this year.The Indian bowlers had a difficult outing as the New Zealand batters attacked them from the beginning.

Nitish Kumar Reddy conceded 32 runs in one over, while Axar Patel, Mayank Yadav and Prince Yadav also faced some tough treatment.Mayank, however, was India's most successful bowler, taking three wickets for 48 runs in his four overs. Arshdeep Singh, Prince and Nitish picked up one wicket each.Arshdeep also achieved a major milestone during the match. He became the first Indian bowler to take 150 wickets in T20Is.Duffy removes Samson, Kishan in first overChasing a huge target of 260, India got off to a disastrous start.

New Zealand pacer Jacob Duffy struck twice in the opening over, dismissing both Indian openers.Sanju Samson managed just four runs before Tim Seifert completed the catch. Ishan Kishan, who returned to the side after recovering from a groin injury, was caught and bowled by Duffy for a duck.India continued to lose wickets at regular intervals and never looked comfortable in the chase.Abhishek Sharma scored 27 off 15 balls, while captain Shreyas Iyer made 22 off 11 deliveries.

Nitish Kumar Reddy added 21 off 10 balls.Tilak Varma tried to keep India's hopes alive with 35 off 35 balls. Naman Dhir also played an attacking knock of 28 off just 13 deliveries.However, New Zealand's bowlers kept taking wickets and did not allow India to build any big partnership.Duffy was the pick of the bowlers with four wickets for 23 runs. Matthew Fisher claimed two wickets, while Adam Milne and Mitchell Santner took one and two wickets respectively.India eventually finished at 172/9 in their 20 overs, falling 87 runs short of the target.India make two changesIndia made two changes to their playing XI for the fourth T20I.

Ishan Kishan and Mayank Yadav returned to the team in place of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Bhuvneshwar Kumar.Sooryavanshi had scored 45 in the previous match but was left out for the returning Kishan. Bhuvneshwar also missed out as Mayank made his return to the side.India had already sealed the five-match series with a 3-0 lead. However, New Zealand's big win ended their hopes of completing a clean sweep.The fifth and final T20I will be played on Sunday at Seddon Park in Hamilton.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates.

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