New Zealand piled up their highest-ever T20I total against India, 225/4, in the first bilateral T20I on Thursday, prompting a forgettable record for the visitors. For the first time in India’s 19-year-long history in the T20 format, five bowlers conceded 40 or more runs in a match.
Glenn Phillips smashed an unbeaten 82 off 40 balls, and Finn Allen contributed 45 off 24 deliveries to expose the visitors’ bowling weaknesses. The hosts made an aggressive start despite some early swing on offer. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, playing his first international match in nearly four years, began economically before Tim Seifert attacked him in his second over, striking two fours and a six in a 17-run over.
Allen then took on Arshdeep Singh for another 17 runs as New
Zealand gathered momentum in the powerplay. Mayank Yadav provided India with a breakthrough in the fifth over, dismissing Seifert for 24. However, Axar Patel struggled in the final over of the powerplay, conceding two sixes to Allen and Daryl Mitchell as New Zealand reached 65/1 in six overs.
Allen continued to attack before falling to Axar for 45 in the eighth over, with Tilak Varma taking the catch. Phillips then took charge alongside Mitchell, who made 28 off 19 balls, before Arshdeep dismissed the latter in the 13th over to leave New Zealand at 122/3.
Phillips accelerated through the middle and death overs, finding support from Bevon Jacobs. The pair added 73 runs off 32 deliveries, with Jacobs contributing 31 off 16 balls. He struck a six off his first delivery against Arshdeep and hit two more maximums before being run out in the 18th over.
Phillips remained unbeaten, finishing with eight fours and three sixes at a strike rate of 205. He capped his innings with a switch-hit over cover, while Michael Bracewell added an unbeaten seven.
For India, Axar was the most expensive, conceding 51 runs in four overs at an economy rate of 12.75. Bhuvneshwar went for 49 runs at 12.25, while Arshdeep conceded 45 at 11.25, despite taking a wicket. Mayank and Nitish were relatively economical, but both gave away 40 runs in their four overs at 10 runs per over.
New Zealand scored 67 runs in the final five overs. Axar conceded 51 runs in four overs, while Bhuvneshwar finished with 0/49. The total was New Zealand’s highest on home soil and joint-highest against India in T20Is.
