Glenn Phillips’ 46-Ball Century Stuns India as New Zealand Win by 87 Runs
Glenn Phillips’ 46-Ball Century Stuns India as New Zealand Keep Series Alive with 87-Run Win
New Zealand produced a breathtaking batting display at Eden Park, posting their highest-ever T20I total of 259/7, powered by Glenn Phillips’ sensational 107 off 49 and Michael Bracewell’s 65 off 25. India, chasing a mammoth 260, were never in the hunt after Jacob Duffy’s double strike in the first over, eventually finishing on 172/9. The 87-run defeat is India’s heaviest in T20Is against New Zealand, but they still lead the five-match series 3-1. Here is the complete review: full scorecard, records, highlights, expert reactions from X.com, and a senior journalist’s verdict.
Glenn Phillips smashed a 46-ball century as New Zealand posted their highest-ever T20I total at Eden Park.
📝 Match Report – Phillips’ Mayhem at Eden Park
Shreyas Iyer won the toss and elected to field, expecting dew and a chase-friendly surface. What followed was a batting masterclass from Glenn Phillips and Michael Bracewell that turned Eden Park into a graveyard for bowlers. New Zealand lost Tim Seifert early (3 off 5), but Finn Allen (31 off 17) and Daryl Mitchell (24 off 9) kept the scoring rate above 10 an over. Source: CricTracker
At 112/4 in the 11th over, India had a foothold. Then Phillips and Bracewell took over. The pair added 115 runs off just 41 balls for the fifth wicket, with Bracewell smashing 65 off 25 (4 fours, 6 sixes) and Phillips bringing up his third T20I century off 46 balls – equalling his own record for the fastest T20I ton by a New Zealand man. Source: Stuff.co.nz
Phillips finished with 107 off 49, including 6 fours and 10 sixes. He hit four consecutive sixes off Nitish Kumar Reddy in one over, which went for 32 runs. New Zealand plundered 85 runs in the final five overs to finish on 259/7 – their highest-ever T20I total, surpassing the 254/5 they scored against Scotland in 2022. Source: Times of India
India’s chase never got going. Jacob Duffy dismissed Sanju Samson (4) and Ishan Kishan (0) in the first over, and when Abhishek Sharma fell for 27 off 15 in the fifth over, India were 50/3. Shreyas Iyer (22 off 11) briefly counter-attacked, but Mitchell Santner’s double strike in the ninth over – removing Nitish Kumar Reddy (21) and Axar Patel (7) – effectively ended the contest. Source: Stuff.co.nz
Naman Dhir (28 off 13) and Tilak Varma (35 off 35) offered some resistance, but the required rate was always climbing. Jacob Duffy finished with 4/23, while Santner picked up 2/23. India were bowled out for 172/9, their heaviest T20I defeat against New Zealand. Source: CricTracker
📊 Full Scorecard – NZ vs IND 4th T20I
🇳🇿 New Zealand – 259/7 (20 overs)
| Batter | Dismissal | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tim Seifert (wk) | c Prince Yadav b Mayank Yadav | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 60.00 |
| Finn Allen | c Abhishek Sharma b Axar Patel | 31 | 17 | 2 | 2 | 182.35 |
| Daryl Mitchell | lbw b Mayank Yadav | 24 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 266.67 |
| Glenn Phillips | c Abhishek Sharma b Nitish Kumar Reddy | 107 | 49 | 6 | 10 | 218.37 |
| Bevon Jacobs | c Arshdeep Singh b Mayank Yadav | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Michael Bracewell | lbw b Prince Yadav | 65 | 25 | 4 | 6 | 260.00 |
| Mitchell Santner (c) | c Nitish Kumar Reddy b Arshdeep Singh | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 83.33 |
| Nathan Smith | Not out | 6 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 200.00 |
| Adam Milne | Not out | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
Extras: 10 (lb 1, w 7, nb 2) · Total: 259/7 (RR: 12.95) · Fall of wickets: 5-1 (Seifert, 0.6), 34-2 (Mitchell, 2.5), 93-3 (Allen, 7.6), 112-4 (Jacobs, 10.4), 227-5 (Bracewell, 17.2), 246-6 (Santner, 18.6), 252-7 (Phillips, 19.2)Source: CricTracker
🇮🇳 India Bowling
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mayank Yadav | 4 | 0 | 48 | 3 | 12.00 |
| Arshdeep Singh | 4 | 0 | 38 | 1 | 9.50 |
| Prince Yadav | 4 | 0 | 49 | 1 | 12.25 |
| Nitish Kumar Reddy | 4 | 0 | 64 | 1 | 16.00 |
| Axar Patel | 3 | 0 | 43 | 1 | 14.33 |
| Naman Dhir | 1 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 16.00 |
🇮🇳 India – 172/9 (20 overs)
| Batter | Dismissal | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sanju Samson (wk) | c Tim Seifert b Jacob Duffy | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 200.00 |
| Abhishek Sharma | c Mitchell Santner b Matthew Fisher | 27 | 15 | 3 | 1 | 180.00 |
| Ishan Kishan | c & b Jacob Duffy | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Shreyas Iyer (c) | b Adam Milne | 22 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 200.00 |
| Axar Patel | c & b Mitchell Santner | 7 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 77.78 |
| Nitish Kumar Reddy | c Michael Bracewell b Mitchell Santner | 21 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 210.00 |
| Tilak Varma | c Tim Seifert b Matthew Fisher | 35 | 35 | 1 | 3 | 100.00 |
| Naman Dhir | c Nathan Smith b Jacob Duffy | 28 | 13 | 2 | 2 | 215.38 |
| Arshdeep Singh | c Bevon Jacobs b Jacob Duffy | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Prince Yadav | Not out | 18 | 17 | 2 | 1 | 105.88 |
| Mayank Yadav | Not out | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 75.00 |
Extras: 7 (lb 3, w 4) · Total: 172/9 (RR: 8.60) · Fall of wickets: 4-1 (Samson, 0.2), 4-2 (Kishan, 0.5), 50-3 (Abhishek, 4.3), 56-4 (Iyer, 5.3), 86-5 (Nitish, 8.5), 107-6 (Axar, 10.6), 130-7 (Tilak, 13.4), 163-8 (Naman, 17.1), 169-9 (Arshdeep, 18.3)Source: CricTracker
🇳🇿 New Zealand Bowling
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacob Duffy | 4 | 0 | 23 | 4 | 5.75 |
| Mitchell Santner | 4 | 0 | 23 | 2 | 5.75 |
| Matthew Fisher | 4 | 0 | 36 | 2 | 9.00 |
| Adam Milne | 4 | 0 | 40 | 1 | 10.00 |
| Nathan Smith | 4 | 0 | 47 | 0 | 11.75 |
📈 Series Points Table / Standings
| Team | Matches | Won | Lost | Points | Series Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| India | 4 | 3 | 1 | 6 | Lead 3-1 |
| New Zealand | 4 | 1 | 3 | 2 | Trail 1-3 |
This is a bilateral T20I series, so the “points table” reflects the series score. India have already won the series with a 3-1 lead. The fifth and final T20I will be played in Hamilton on Sunday, November 1, 2026. Source: Stuff.co.nz
🎥 Video Highlights – The Key Moments
Glenn Phillips’ onslaught, Jacob Duffy’s double-wicket first over, and Mitchell Santner’s brilliant catch were the defining moments of the match. Here are the best video clips from the game.
🗣️ Expert Reactions from X.com
Social media exploded after New Zealand’s stunning comeback. Here are some of the top reactions from experts and fans on X (formerly Twitter).
🗣️ Senior Journalist’s Verdict – A Wake-Up Call for India
My Take: India’s Bowling Depth Exposed, But Series Already Won
This was a chastening night for India’s bowling attack. On a ground with short straight boundaries, the absence of a wrist-spinner like Kuldeep Yadav was felt acutely. Axar Patel and Naman Dhir conceded 59 runs in four overs between them, and Nitish Kumar Reddy went for 64 in his four. Mayank Yadav was the only bowler who looked threatening, but even he was taken apart in his final over. Source: Sportskeeda
New Zealand, on the other hand, showed exactly why they are a dangerous side at home. Glenn Phillips’ innings was a masterclass in power-hitting, and Michael Bracewell’s 65 off 25 was the perfect foil. Jacob Duffy’s first over – removing Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan – set the tone for the defence, and India never recovered. Source: Stuff.co.nz
But let’s keep this in perspective. India have already won the series 3-0 before this match. This was a dead rubber, and the team management experimented with the combination, bringing in Ishan Kishan and Mayank Yadav and resting Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. The defeat exposes areas to work on ahead of the T20 World Cup, but it does not change the series outcome.
What India need to fix: The bowling attack lacks variety on flat, small grounds. Kuldeep Yadav or Varun Chakravarthy must return for the final T20I in Hamilton. The batting order also needs to be more adaptable – Abhishek Sharma’s ultra-aggressive approach works, but on days when he fails, the middle order must absorb pressure.
For New Zealand: This win is a massive morale booster. They head to Hamilton with a chance to level the series 3-2, and Phillips’ form is a warning sign for any opposition.
— CricLive Editorial Team
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Who won the 4th T20I between New Zealand and India?
New Zealand won by 87 runs, bowling India out for 172/9 after posting 259/7.
2. What was Glenn Phillips’ score?
Glenn Phillips scored 107 off 49 balls, including 6 fours and 10 sixes.
3. What is the series score now?
India lead the five-match series 3-1. The final T20I will be played in Hamilton.
4. Who was the Player of the Match?
Glenn Phillips was named Player of the Match for his 107 off 49.
5. What was India’s heaviest T20I defeat against New Zealand?
The 87-run loss is India’s heaviest T20I defeat against New Zealand, surpassing the previous margin.
