Tim Seifert and Glenn Phillips struck impressive half-centuries as New Zealand defeated India by seven wickets in the fifth and final T20 International at Seddon Park in Hamilton on Sunday.
Chasing a target of 192, New Zealand reached 194 for three in 18 overs, with 12 balls to spare. Seifert scored 93, while Phillips remained unbeaten on 65 to guide the hosts to their highest successful T20I chase against India.
Phillips also set a new record for the most runs scored by a batter in a bilateral T20I series. He finished the five-match series with 341 runs, surpassing the previous record of 331 runs set by England’s Phil Salt against the West Indies in 2023.
Phillips registered his fourth half-century of the series, while Seifert produced his first major contribution with the bat in the contest. The duo added 86 runs off 42 balls for the third wicket, shifting the momentum firmly in New Zealand’s favour.
India made an early breakthrough when Arshdeep Singh dismissed Finn Allen in the second over. However, Seifert and Daryl Mitchell helped New Zealand reach 59 for one at the end of the powerplay.
Varun Chakravarthy dismissed Mitchell in the ninth over, but Phillips joined Seifert and continued the aggressive approach. Nitish Kumar Reddy eventually ended Seifert’s innings at 93, but Phillips ensured there was no late comeback for India, taking New Zealand across the finish line in the 18th over.
Earlier, India posted 191 for eight after half-centuries from Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer. Kishan scored 61 off 32 balls, while Iyer contributed 50. The pair stitched together a 93-run partnership for the third wicket after India lost openers Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson cheaply.
Naman Dhir added 33 runs, while Nitish Kumar Reddy scored 22 to help India reach a competitive total. However, New Zealand’s bowlers restricted the visitors from crossing the 200-run mark.
Adam Milne was the pick of the New Zealand bowlers, claiming four wickets for 19 runs in his four overs. Nathan Smith and Blair Tickner picked up two wickets each.
Despite the defeat, India won the five-match series 3-2, having taken the first three matches before New Zealand bounced back to win the final two games.
-IANS
