New Zealand thrash India in fourth Twenty20 to end losing streak

New Zealand celebrate against India
New Zealand celebrate against IndiaNoah SEELAM / AFP / AFP / Profimedia

New Zealand thumped India by 50 runs in the fourth ‍Twenty20 International to earn their first win of the five-match series in Visakhapatnam on Wednesday.

Put in to ​bat, New Zealand struggled to build on the century opening stand between Tim Seifert (62) and Devon Conway (44) but still posted a ‌commanding 215-7.

The tourists then returned to bowl out India ‌for 165 in 18.4 overs despite Shivam Dube's belligerent 65 off 23 balls that included seven sixes.

India lead the series 3-1 ahead of Saturday's final match in Thiruvananthapuram.

Earlier, New Zealand ⁠got off to a blazing start with Seifert and Conway combining ‌in an opening stand of 100 to lay the foundation ​for a big total.

Spinner Kuldeep Yadav dismissed Conway in the ninth over to break the century stand as India clawed their way back into the contest with a flurry of wickets.

Jasprit Bumrah took a return catch to send ‌back Rachin Ravindra in the next over and Arshdeep Singh ended Seifert's 36-ball blitz, which contained three sixes.

Kuldeep also claimed the wicket of Glenn Phillips (24) but Daryl Mitchell ⁠smashed 39 not out from 18 balls as New Zealand managed to make hay in the death overs to power past the 200-mark.

Having taken an unassailable 3-0 lead, India rested top-order batter Ishan Kishan, who sustained a niggle in their victory in Guwahati, and their rejigged batting order was immediately under pressure.

Their in-form opener Abhishek Sharma, currently the top-ranked T20 batter, fell for a first-ball duck to Matt Henry while skipper Suryakumar Yadav (eight) ⁠did not last long either.

A promoted Rinku Singh made ‌39, but wickets kept tumbling with New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner claiming 3-26.

Dube kept India in the hunt but his run-out, when Harshit Rana's drive was deflected onto the stumps at the non-striker's end ⁠by bowler Henry in his follow-through, effectively sealed ​India's fate.

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