New Zealand produced a masterclass in aggressive batting at Auckland on Friday, posting a formidable 259 for seven in the fourth T20I against India. The total stands as the highest score ever recorded by any team against India in the format, eclipsing the previous benchmark of 257 for three set by England in Southampton earlier this year.
The hosts adopted an ultra-attacking mindset from the outset, a response to India’s dominance in the series, which the visitors currently lead 3-0.
A record-breaking display of power hitting
The innings saw a recovery after early setbacks, with Mayank Yadav removing Tim Seifert and Daryl Mitchell to put the hosts under pressure. A 59-run stand between Phillips and Finn Allen steadied the ship, but it was the explosive combination of Phillips and Bracewell that shifted the game decisively. Phillips reached his half-century in 31 balls before accelerating significantly, taking 32 runs off a single over from Nitish Kumar Reddy, which included four sixes and a four.
Bracewell was equally destructive, particularly against Axar Patel, whom he struck for three fours and a six in a single over. His half-century came in just 18 balls, providing the perfect foil for Phillips. Even against the pace of Mayank Yadav, who clocked in the mid-140s, the pair found ways to score, with Bracewell executing a flick and a scoop for consecutive sixes.
Phillips cements his place in the record books
Phillips reached his third T20I century in just 46 balls, scoring his second fifty in a mere 15 deliveries. By the time he was dismissed by Reddy, he had moved to the top of the list for the most runs scored in a T20I series against India, tallying 276 runs. The late-innings surge was relentless, with New Zealand accumulating 85 runs in the final five overs to set a target that rewrites the history books.
