New Zealand thrash India in Auckland to avoid a whitewash

New Zealand beat India by a big margin in the fourth T20 international of the series in Auckland. The Kiwis, who took the field aiming to avoid a whitewash in the five-match series, reduced the series deficit to 3-1 with this win.

India had already secured the five-match T20 series by winning the first three matches. In the third T20 in Wellington on 27 October, India chased down New Zealand's target of 199 with 40 balls to spare, winning by six wickets; Abhishek Sharma had scored a blistering century in that match. Three days later in Auckland, New Zealand took a measure of revenge.

Chasing the big target set by New Zealand, India lost two wickets in the very first over. Sanju Samson hit a four off the first ball of the innings but Jacob Duffy dismissed him off the very next ball. Off the fifth ball of the same over, Duffy sent back Ishan Kishan before he could open his account.

Reduced to 4 for 2 in 0.5 overs, India were steadied by Shreyas Iyer and Abhishek Sharma. They added 46 runs off 22 balls for the third wicket, the highest partnership of India's innings. Adam Milne broke the stand by dismissing Iyer (22) off the third ball of the fifth over.

India then kept losing wickets at regular intervals, although New Zealand's fielders dropped catch after catch. Bevan Jacobs missed two catches; in trying to catch Naman Dhir, Jacobs turned it into a six. Another Kiwi fielder, Matt Fisher, also dropped a catch.

Even with the missed catches, India could not get close to victory. Batting the full 20 overs, the visitors stopped at 172 for nine.

After four matches, India lead the series 3-1. The fifth and final T20 is now the next contest between the two teams.