NZ vs IND 4th T20I Results

11:21 AM IST Bounced back, and how! A complete all-round showing from New Zealand tonight, with the bowlers backing up the batters' mammoth effort. Yes, they can't win the series, but they had a few wrinkles to iron out in the bowling department, and they managed to do exactly that this time around. More so, they have avoided the whitewash with a game to go. New Zealand's bowlers made the most of the early bounce and swing, using the boundaries smartly and banging the ball hard into the surface, something the Indian attack struggled to sustain for long stretches. Jacob Duffy was the pick of the bowlers with a four-for, whereas Santner was at his usual best, just choking the runs in the middle phase with a couple of wickets to his name. Fisher, too, picked up two to his name after conceding some runs.

11:21 AM IST Never got going - India found themselves buried under early pressure as their top order was swept away. Abhishek, Shreyas and Nitish each offered a spark, but none could turn it into a substantial knock, all falling in the 20s. Around the halfway mark, India were reeling at 89/6, and with such a towering target in sight, the damage had left them with a colossal rebuilding task. Naman Dhir showed a flash of power before falling, leaving Tilak Varma to hold the innings together and ensure India avoided a total collapse. Prince Yadav then added a few useful runs at the end to give the total a semblance of respectability. But in the end, it was all in a losing cause.

11:20 AM IST Phillips lights up Auckland - 198 wasn’t enough, 180 wasn’t enough, and even 225 wasn’t enough. New Zealand answered with a brutal display of power-hitting, piling up 259, the highest total of the series. With a couple of starts in the top order, Glenn Phillips took charge yet again, this time with Michael Bracewell joining him in the 11th over. Together, they turned the match into a slaughter, smashing 115 runs in a whirlwind partnership. Bracewell tore to a 19-ball fifty, while Phillips, already owner of two 50-plus scores in the series, climbed another level and reached three figures. He batted as though his bat had only a middle and no edges, connecting almost everything and punishing every bowler who dared to bowl at him. For India, this was the third time they conceded 250-plus in an innings in T20Is this year alone. Mayank Yadav made some impact with a three-for, but was taken to the cleaners just like the others.

11:15 AM IST Down to the last one - Well then, that's that from the penultimate game. New Zealand never allowed the tourists a way back and will take plenty of positives into the next match. Their fielding, however, was below par once again, with two or three catches going down, an uncharacteristic lapse for a side known for its outstanding fielders. India, on the other hand, lacked conviction with the ball, which is becoming a very worrying trend for Iyer and Co., and were completely outplayed when they came to bat. They still lead the series 3-1, but will look to end it on a high. Both teams will now make a short trip to Hamilton for the fifth and final T20I set to be played at Seddon Park on Sunday, 1st November. The first ball is scheduled to be bowled at 7 am GMT (12.30 pm IST). But our buildup begins well in advance. So make sure to mark your presence for that as well. Until then, it's goodbye. Take care, ADIOS!

11:10 AM IST PLAYER OF THE MATCH - Glenn Phillips takes home the award for his breathtaking knock of 107 off just 49 balls. He says that it was a really good pitch to bat on and they did well to bat the way they did, and is happy for the lads. Phillips then adds that the way they took the game away from India was excellent and reckons that it's all about ebbs and flows and wants to make the most of this purple patch. On his hamstring, he says that it is more of a precaution and hopes that he can contribute further heading into the summer.

11:09 AM IST The victorious captain of New Zealand - Mitchell Santner starts by saying that the toss didn't go their way, but the wind blew away any chances of dew. He feels that you just don't have to put runs on the board, but also bowl well against this opposition, which they did today. He also adds that there was steep bounce, which they exploited well and then talks about the likes of Michael Bracewell and Glenn Phillips for the way they played. On the fielding, he says that he is happy overall, and knows that there were a couple of dropped catches, which they will look to work on.