Visakhapatnam: India suffered a 50-run defeat against New Zealand in the fourth T20 International at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium here on Wednesday, as the visitors produced a strong all-round performance to stay alive in the series.
Asked to bat first, New Zealand piled up an imposing 215 for seven, riding on a blistering opening stand between Tim Seifert and Devon Conway. The pair added 100 runs in just over eight overs, putting India under early pressure. Seifert struck a fluent 62 off 36 balls, while Conway’s 44 came from only 23 deliveries.
India’s bowlers managed to regain some control in the latter half of the innings. Arshdeep Singh and Kuldeep Yadav picked up two wickets each, slowing the scoring rate. However, Daryl Mitchell’s late burst, an 18-ball 39, ensured New Zealand crossed the 200-mark.
India’s reply began on a poor note, with Abhishek Sharma dismissed off the first ball. Wickets continued to fall at regular intervals as New Zealand’s bowlers applied pressure through tight lines and smart variations.
Shivam Dube stood out in an otherwise struggling chase. The left-hander smashed 65 off just 23 balls, hitting three fours and seven sixes, and briefly raised hopes of a comeback. His counter-attack, however, lacked support from the other end.
India were eventually bowled out for 165, handing New Zealand a comprehensive victory. The result gives the Black Caps a much-needed lift after losing the earlier matches and sets up an intriguing finish to the series.
Reflecting on the loss, India captain Suryakumar Yadav said the team had deliberately gone in with a six-batter line-up to test itself under pressure. He explained that the idea was to field five bowlers and challenge the batting group in a demanding chase. “Wanted us to see how we bat when two or three down while chasing 180-200,” he said, and added, “With heavy dew, one or two partnerships like Dube batted, one partnership could have made a difference.”
