New Zealand thrashed India by 244 runs in the fourth ODI at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui, bowling the visitors out for just 89 after Will Young’s 125 had set up 333. Matt Henry’s career-best 6 for 27, including a triple-wicket maiden in the first over that removed Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer without a run, sealed the win and cut India’s series lead to 2-1.
India’s chase began in disaster. Henry struck with the first ball, having Rohit caught for a golden duck, then knocked over Kohli with a delivery that kept low before trapping Iyer lbw. It was the first time in ODI history India had lost their first three wickets without scoring a run. Kyle Jamieson then removed Ruturaj Gaikwad, leaving India four down for nine inside six overs.
Ishan Kishan and Axar tried to rebuild, but Matthew Fisher broke the stand by removing Axar for 21, and India were 53 for five after 17.1 overs. Henry returned to dismiss Kishan for 27, then completed his five-for by knocking over Kuldeep Yadav. Naman Dhir hit two sixes off Fisher but fell for 21 in the same over, and Henry wrapped up the innings by dismissing Gurnoor Brar. India were bowled out for 89 in 26.4 overs — their second-heaviest defeat by runs, behind only the 245-run loss to Sri Lanka at Sharjah in 2000, and their sixth-lowest ODI total. Henry became only the second New Zealand bowler to take six wickets in an ODI against India, after Shane Bond in 2005, and Fisher finished with 3 for 31.
Earlier, Young had made 125 from 108 balls, with 14 fours and four sixes, after being dropped twice in the first over, by Rohit and Kishan, both off Auqib Nabi. Tim Seifert made 58 in an 85-run opening stand, reaching his maiden ODI fifty from 39 balls, while Finn Allen made 41 from 30. Young reached his fifth ODI hundred from 88 balls before falling to Dhir, while Santner added 24. New Zealand were bowled out for 333 in the final over, Henry and Fisher run out off the last two balls. Axar took 2 for 39 and Nabi 2 for 59.
Iyer, leading India for the first time in ODIs, rued the dropped catches and the new-ball swing. “No one threw the wicket away. It was good deliveries,” he said after the defeat, adding that Henry had been “sensational” from ball one. The result sets up a decider at the same venue on Sunday, November 15, with New Zealand able to level the series at 2-2. Henry and Jamieson will both miss the decider as they prepare for the Test series starting on November 19 in Wellington.
Related:
- Iyer Takes Charge as India Eye Series Win in Fourth ODI Against New Zealand at Bay Oval — https://t20star.com/iyer-takes-charge-as-india-eye-series-win-in-fourth-odi-against-new-zealand-at-bay-oval/
- Nine Changes as Iyer Leads India for the First Time in Fourth ODI Against New Zealand — https://t20star.com/nine-changes-as-iyer-leads-india-for-the-first-time-in-fourth-odi-against-new-zealand/
