Shivam Dube's blitzkrieg went in vain as India suffered a 50-run defeat at the hands of New Zealand in the fourth T20I in Vizag on January 28.
New Zealand crush India in 4th T20I
India's chase got off to a disastrous start, setting a negative tone for the rest of the innings. Opener Abhishek Sharma was dismissed for a golden duck on the very first delivery, and captain Suryakumar Yadav followed shortly after, contributing only 8 runs. While Sanju Samson and Rinku Singh attempted to stabilise the innings with a partnership, the momentum stalled once Samson fell. The situation worsened when all-rounder Hardik Pandya failed to find his rhythm, departing for a mere 2 runs.
Shivam Dube's fiery 23-ball 65 in vain
Shivam Dube remained the lone bright spot for the hosts, keeping India's hopes alive with a stormy 23-ball 65. However, his dismissal proved to be the final blow; he was unluckily run out at the non-striker’s end, sparking a terminal collapse. Without Dube's resistance, the Indian tail stood little chance, and the team was eventually skittled out for 165, handing New Zealand a comfortable victory.
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Tim Seifert's special in Kiwis' win
Tim Seifert ignited the New Zealand innings with a blistering half-century, setting a frantic pace after India elected to field first. Fresh from a stint in the Big Bash League, Seifert wasted no time asserting his dominance, targeting Arshdeep Singh with three consecutive boundaries in the opening over. While some early runs came via fortunate edges, he soon found his rhythm, launching Harshit Rana for a powerful six over long-on. His aggressive approach propelled the Kiwis to a rapid 50 within four overs, eventually concluding the Power Play at an imposing 71 for no loss.
The wicketkeeper-batsman’s onslaught provided the perfect platform for his opening partner, Devon Conway, to settle in. While Seifert continued his charge—dispatching even the seasoned Jasprit Bumrah for a maximum over the sight-screen—Conway eventually found his range against the spin of Ravi Bishnoi. After a quiet start, the left-hander shifted gears by plundering 35 runs off just 13 deliveries, helping the visitors establish a formidable 100-run opening stand that threatened to take the game away from India.
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However, the tide began to turn when Kuldeep Yadav finally broke the partnership, enticing Conway to hole out to Rinku Singh at deep cover for 44. Although Seifert reached his fifty in just 25 balls, the Indian bowlers successfully applied the brakes during the middle overs. Displaying remarkable discipline, the hosts exploited a small crack in the door to trigger a collapse, snatching four wickets for just 37 runs. This clinical recovery reduced New Zealand from a position of absolute command to 137 for four, ultimately restricting them to 215 for seven.
While the Indian bowling attack didn't necessarily produce a magic spell, they benefited greatly from the visitors' own aggression. Following the blistering start provided by the Seifert-Conway partnership, the middle-order batsmen seemed overly determined to maintain an ambitious scoring rate of 12 runs per over. This overzealous approach ultimately backfired, as New Zealand's eagerness to keep the foot on the gas led to a cluster of wickets that halted their momentum.
Captain Mitchell Santner appeared poised to deliver a significant cameo after launching Ravi Bishnoi for a boundary and a six in quick succession. However, his innings was cut short by a moment of indecision. An ill-judged attempt at a quick single proved fatal when Hardik Pandya—who did not bowl during the match—executed a sharp direct hit. Santner was caught short of his crease, further destabilizing the New Zealand middle order at a crucial juncture. Daryl Mitchell provided some late-innings fireworks, remaining unbeaten on 39 from just 18 balls to push the total past the 200-mark.