Dube’s Six-Fest Not Enough! NZ Crush India by 50 Runs in Vizag Thriller
Visakhapatnam, 29 January (Sports Desk)
New Zealand defeated India by 50 runs in the 4th T20I of the ongoing five-match series, played on January 28, 2026, at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam (Vizag), India. This was a consolation victory for the Black Caps, as India had already clinched the series (leading 3-1 heading into the final match).
Match Summary
- New Zealand innings: 215/7 in 20 overs New Zealand were put in to bat and posted a formidable total, thanks to an explosive start from their openers.
- Tim Seifert (wk): 62 off 36 balls (7 fours, 3 sixes) – He smashed his fifty in just 25 balls (joint-fastest by a New Zealander vs India in T20Is) and anchored the innings.
- Devon Conway: 44 off 23 balls. Their opening partnership was 100 runs in 8.2 overs (including 71 in the powerplay), setting a strong platform. Later, Daryl Mitchell provided a quick finish with 39 off 18 balls to push the score past 200 despite some middle-order wickets.
- India innings: 165 all out in 18.4 overs (target 216) India suffered an early top-order collapse, including a golden duck for Abhishek Sharma and quick wickets for captain Suryakumar Yadav. The chase never truly got going, though Shivam Dube played a sensational cameo: 65 off 23 balls (with 7 sixes and a 15-ball fifty – one of the fastest for India). His knock kept India in the fight briefly, but he was run out in unfortunate fashion (deflection off the bowler). Rinku Singh contributed 39 off 30.
- Result: New Zealand won by 50 runs.
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Key Performers
- Player of the Match: Tim Seifert (for his match-defining 62 off 36 at the top, which set up the high total and earned him the award).
- Bowling highlights for NZ: Captain Mitchell Santner took 3/26 to dismantle the middle order.
- For India: Arshdeep Singh (2/33) and Kuldeep Yadav (2/39) were among the wickets, but the bowlers couldn’t contain NZ’s power-hitting early on.
This win gave New Zealand momentum after a tough series start, highlighting their batting firepower on a good surface. India will look to bounce back and seal a strong series win in the 5th and final T20I.
