India lost by 50 runs against New Zealand despite Shivam Dube’s brilliant fifty in the fourth Twenty20 International at Visakhapatnam on Wednesday.
In India’s chase of 216, the clean-hitting Dube 65 (23 balls, 3×4, 7×6) batted all but his own, but the hosts were ultimately bowled out for 165 as the Kiwis cut the lead to 3-1 in the five-match series.
Abhishek Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav were anticipated to spearhead the pursuit after Ishan Kishan was sidelined due to an undisclosed ailment.
However, Abhishek skied Matt Henry to Devon Conway at deep point on the opening ball of India’s innings. India fell to 9/2 when Suryakumar’s feeble drive was turned into a superb return catch by Jacob Duffy.
Sanju Samson (24) and Rinku Singh (39) attempted to keep India afloat, but they were unable to push the pace during or after the powerplay. Mitchell Santner’s straight delivery foxed Samson, who smashed a flipped six off Duffy, then was castled, as Rinku fell leg before to Zak Foulkes.
Hardik Pandya also returned without making much of an impact as India fell to 82 for five in the eleventh over, leaving Dube and Harshit Rana (9) to save the day. Dube batted courageously, barely showing the strain of an increasing asking rate that was nearly always at 14.
Dube lifted the spirits in the Indian camp by biffing 29 runs off leg-spinner Ish Sodhi’s third over, which included a sequence of 4, 6, 4, 6, 6, before being spared by DRS from a leg-before decision on 46.
With a six over square leg off Duffy, the left-hander reached his fifty in just fifteen balls. Harshit Rana contributed a princely 4 runs with Dube win their sixth-wicket stand of 63 runs.
https://x.com/BCCI/status/2016545029788241947?s=20
However, Dube’s finally ran out of luck when Rana’s rasping straight drive broke the stumps at the non-striker’s end after deflecting off Henry’s hand. That effectively ended India’s run chase.
Earlier, Tim Seifert hit a scorching fifty, while Daryl Mitchell starred with a brief cameo in the closing overs to propel New Zealand to 215/7.
The standout Kiwi batsman was Seifert, who hit 62 from 36 balls, including three sixes and seven fours. However, after India chose to field first, Seifert did not have enough support from his teammates to completely drive home the advantage.
After a Big Bash League stint, Seifert joined the team and got off to a fast start, hitting Arshdeep Singh for three consecutive fours, two of which were off edges. However, the right-hander displayed his strength and timing when he hit Harshit Rana for a six over long-on in the following over.
Before sending a Jasprit Bumrah delivery to the sight-screen for another maximum in the pacer’s subsequent over, Seifert managed to get out a six and four in consecutive balls. New Zealand finished the Powerplay at 71/0 in six overs after quickly surpassing the 50-run threshold in the fourth over.
Devon Conway (44) was also assisted by Seifert’s fast-paced innings in calming down before taking on the Indian bowlers. The left-hander regained his range after wandering to 9 off 9 balls. He hit two fours and a six off Ravi Bishnoi, including a square cut, a slog sweep, and a loft between long-on and mid-wicket.
Conway scored 35 runs off the following 13 balls before being dismissed by Rinku Singh at deep cover off Kuldeep Yadav, as the home team broke a 100-run first wicket partnership.
The Kiwis were reduced to 137/4 in 13.4 overs after Seifert quickly reached a 25-ball fifty. However, India discovered a small opening and quickly took four wickets in the span of 37 runs. The visiting batters were too eager to keep up the Seifert-Conway combine’s run pace of 12, even if the Indians did not bowl any magic spells.
Mitchell Santner, the captain, looked good for another crucial cameo, slamming Bishnoi for a four and a six off successive deliveries. However, Hardik Pandya, who did not bowl, produced a direct throw to run out Santner.
New Zealand passed 200 because to some powerful blows from Daryl Mitchell (39 not out, 18b) in the last overs.
