Tim Seifert steals the show as New Zealand make it two wins in a row against India

Tim Seifert steals the show as New Zealand make it two wins in a row against India

It's been raining runs in the Land of the Long White Cloud, and finally the hosts are coming out on the right side. India may have secured the series after the third match, but comfortable back-to-back wins have left the Kiwis wondering what might have been.

On Sunday, chasing 192 to win, they were belligerent. Finn Allen fell early when he skyed Arshdeep Singh into the night sky, but fellow opener Tim Seifert took the game away from India.

The wicketkeeper-batter blasted 93 from 50 balls - including five sixes - and when he finally perished in the 16th over, the damage had been done.

Seifert was supported manfully first by Darly Mitchell, whose quickfire 29 from 16 was needed, and then by the explosive Glenn Phillips, with whom he put on 86 from 42 to break the back of the chase. Phillips struck two consecutive fours to end the match with 12 balls remaining.

Earlier, India lost red-hot openers Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson early and were reduced to 21 for 2 after four overs, with big quick Adam Milne bagging an early brace.

But Ishan Kishan and captain Shreyas Iyer then stitched together a superb 93-run stand off just 43 balls to put India back on track. The pair looked like they could propel them to 220, but India lost their way. New Zealand's Blair Tickner dismissed Kishan (61 from 32 balls ) and when Iyer (50 off 23) top-edged a pull off Nathan Smith seven balls later, the slide to 191/8 began.

Nitish Kumar Reddy and Naman Dhir added 46 off 30 balls for the sixth wicket and while the visitors managed 47 in the last five overs, regular wickets blunted their attack. Milne was brilliant with the ball, getting two more scalps to finish with excellent figures of 4/19, eventually earning him Player of the Match.

Related News

New Zealand bowlers fight hard but India take the spoils in second ODI

New Zealand bowlers fight hard but India take the spoils in second ODI

  • 3 days ago

New Zealand's bowling unit fought hard to defend a low total but India came out on top by four runs (DLS method) in the second ODI in Wellington as the visitors went 2-0 ahead in the five-match series.

India draw first blood in rain-affected ODI series opener in New Zealand

India draw first blood in rain-affected ODI series opener in New Zealand

  • 6 days ago

Arshdeep Singh took four wickets before Virat Kohli hit 74 as India beat New Zealand by five wickets in a rain-affected first of five ODIs that was played in Auckland on Wednesday.

India add Auqib Nabi to ODI squad for five-match series in New Zealand

India add Auqib Nabi to ODI squad for five-match series in New Zealand

  • 10 days ago

India have added seamer Auqib Nabi to their ODI squad for the five-match series in New Zealand following a hamstring injury to Prasidh Krishna.

Glenn Phillips hits century as New Zealand claim T20I victory against India

Glenn Phillips hits century as New Zealand claim T20I victory against India

  • 11 days ago

Glenn Phillips struck a century while seamer Jacob Duffy took four wickets as New Zealand claimed a consolation victory in the T20I series against India in Auckland.