Visakhapatnam, Jan 28: The Men in Blue faced a reality check on Wednesday night. Despite having the series in the bag (3-1), India suffered a massive 50-run defeat in the 4th T20I against New Zealand at the ACA-VDCA Stadium. While the result went against the hosts, the match will be remembered for Shivam Dube’s explosive 15-ball half-century, which briefly threatened to pull off a miracle chase of 216.
New Zealand registered their first win of the tour, snapping India’s winning streak and proving they are far from done ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup.
The Collapse and The Counter-Attack
Chasing a daunting target of 216, India’s top order crumbled under the pressure of the scoreboard.
- Top Order Failure: Opener Abhishek Sharma departed for a golden duck, and skipper Suryakumar Yadav (8) fell cheaply to Jacob Duffy, leaving India reeling early.
- The Dube Storm: Walking in at a precarious 63/4, Shivam Dube launched a brutal counter-attack. He took leg-spinner Ish Sodhi to the cleaners, smashing 29 runs in a single over. Dube raced to his fifty in just 15 balls—the third fastest by an Indian in T20Is—before being run out at the non-striker’s end in a freakish deflection off the bowler’s fingers. He departed for a well-made 65 (23 balls).
Kiwi Openers Set the Tone
Earlier, New Zealand’s total of 215/7 was built on a solid foundation provided by their openers.
- Opening Blitz: Tim Seifert (62 off 36) and Devon Conway (44 off 23) stitched a 100-run partnership in just 8.2 overs, dismantling the Indian powerplay bowling.
- Spinners Strike Back: Kuldeep Yadav (2/29) and Arshdeep Singh (2/33) managed to pull things back in the middle overs, but a late cameo by Daryl Mitchell (39* off 18) ensured the visitors crossed the 200-run mark.
- Santner’s Spell: Captain Mitchell Santner led from the front with the ball, picking up 3/26 and choking India’s run flow exactly when the partnership between Dube and Rinku Singh began to look dangerous.
Key Highlights
| Stat | Details |
| Record Alert | Shivam Dube’s 15-ball fifty is only behind Yuvraj Singh (12 balls) and Abhishek Sharma (14 balls) for India. |
| Series Status | India leads 3-1. The final match is in Thiruvananthapuram. |
| Missed Opportunities | Sanju Samson (24) and Rinku Singh (39) got starts but couldn’t convert them into match-winning knocks. |
FAQ Section
A1: Yes. Despite this loss, India holds an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match series. The final match is a dead rubber but remains crucial for World Cup squad selection.
A2: Yuvraj Singh holds the record with a 12-ball fifty against England (2007). Shivam Dube’s 15-ball effort in this match is now the third fastest, sitting just behind Abhishek Sharma’s recent 14-ball record.
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