IND vs NZ: India stare at record chase after Seifert, Mitchell power New Zealand to 215/7
New Zealand have set a record 216-run target for India in the fourth T20I at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam on Wednesday, January 28.
New Delhi: New Zealand have set a record 216-run target for India in the fourth T20I at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam on Wednesday, January 28. This is the highest T20I total ever posted in Vizag, and the second-highest total in a T20I match between India and New Zealand. If the Men in Blue manage to chase down the 216-run target in the fourth T20I, it will be the highest successful T20 chase in Vizag.
After being asked to bat first, the visitors got off to a great start as Tim Siefert and Devon Conway forged a 100-run partnership for the opening wicket. Kuldeep Yadav provided the first breakthrough for the Men in Blue as he removed Devon Conway for 44 runs, while Bumrah dismissed Rachin Ravindra for two runs.
Seifert and Phillips looked to build a partnership, but Kuldeep removed the latter for 24 as the visitors struggled to score runs in the middle overs. Seifert completed a 25-ball fifty, but the hosts found some momentum and took four wickets in the space of 37 runs to reduce the Blackcaps to 137/4 in 13.4 overs.
New Zealand batters played some poor shots as they were eager to maintain a run rate of 12, gifting their wickets to the Indian bowlers. Skipper Mitchell Santner was all set to play another valuable cameo, smashing Bishnoi for a boundary and a maximum in consecutive deliveries.
The New Zealand skipper was looking to take a quick single in the 17th over, but Hardik Pandya's direct throw ended his stay. Daryl Mitchell, who scored an unbeaten 39 runs off 18 balls, smashed some big shots in the death overs to take New Zealand past 200.
Highest successful chases in all T20S in Vizag
210 - Delhi Capitals vs Lucknow Super Giants in 2025
209 - Australia vs India in 2023
185 - Karnataka vs Andhra in 2019