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Sports & Cricket
Blair Tickner smashes four sixes as India bowl NZ out for 185
New Zealand number 11 Blair Tickner smashed four sixes in a 23-ball 34 as India bowled the hosts out for 185 in the first ODI at Eden Park, Auckland, on 4 November 2026, before rain interrupted the chase.
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New Zealand number 11 Blair Tickner smashed four sixes in a 23-ball 34 as India bowled the hosts out for 185 in the first ODI at Eden Park, Auckland, on 4 November 2026, before rain interrupted the chase.
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New Zealand number 11 Blair Tickner smashed four sixes in a 23-ball 34 as India bowled the hosts out for 185 in the first ODI at Eden Park, Auckland, on Wednesday, before rain interrupted India's chase.
By StoryTimesNow News Desk — 04 November 2026, 3:05 PM IST
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Key Takeaways
What happened: India bowled New Zealand out for 185 in 40.2 overs in the first ODI at Eden Park on 4 November 2026, after Shubman Gill won the toss and chose to bowl.
Who is affected: Number 11 Blair Tickner hit 34 off 23 balls, while Arshdeep Singh, Gurnoor Brar and Anshul Kamboj shared nine wickets.
What next: India were 54 for 1 when rain stopped play; play resumed at 1:35 PM IST with a revised target of 167 in 40 overs.
New Zealand tailender Blair Tickner turned a collapse into a talking point on Wednesday, smashing four sixes in a 34 off 23 balls after India bowled the hosts out for 185 in the first ODI at Eden Park, Auckland. Batting at number 11, Tickner was his side's second-highest scorer, behind only Tim Seifert's 38.
Rohit Sharma fell for a six-ball duck in India's reply, but Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill reached 54 for 1 before rain stopped play; play resumed at 1:35 PM IST with a revised target of 167 in 40 overs.
What Happened?
Gill won the toss and chose to bowl under overcast skies, after rain delayed the start by around 20 minutes. Arshdeep Singh struck in the fifth over to remove Will Young for nine, and debutant Gurnoor Brar removed Henry Nicholls, also for nine, as New Zealand slipped to 40 for 2.
Seifert and Daryl Mitchell added 33 for the third wicket before Arshdeep removed Seifert for 38. Brar dismissed Tom Latham, and Mitchell was run out by Rohit Sharma, leaving New Zealand 97 for 5 in the 22nd over. Glenn Phillips made 30, but Anshul Kamboj removed Mitchell Santner and Nathan Smith cheaply, and Arshdeep returned to dismiss Kyle Jamieson and Phillips.
At 146 for 9, New Zealand were heading for a very low total. Tickner struck Brar for six over long-on, then hit three sixes off Arshdeep in the 38th over. He added 39 for the last wicket with Jacob Duffy (15) before Brar ended the resistance, Tickner caught behind by KL Rahul. New Zealand were all out for 185 in 40.2 overs.
Why Does This Matter?
It showed how effective India's inexperienced pace attack can be when the ball moves. The four fast bowlers in the side had a combined experience of only 29 ODIs, yet they bowled with control on a helpful Eden Park surface, using the short ball and tight lines to keep New Zealand under pressure.
Tickner's cameo gave New Zealand something to defend and turned a one-sided innings into a memorable passage of play. He joined a rare list of number 11 batters to hit four sixes in a one-day innings, alongside Mohammad Amir and Naseem Shah. The hosts, missing Rachin Ravindra and Mark Chapman, will need a much stronger batting display in Wellington.
Important Details
Result so far: New Zealand 185 all out in 40.2 overs (Seifert 38, Tickner 34, Phillips 30, Mitchell 28; Arshdeep 4 for 70, Brar 3 for 44, Kamboj 2 for 22), Eden Park, 4 November 2026.
Tickner's cameo: 34 off 23 balls, one four and four sixes, including three sixes off Arshdeep in the 38th over; 39-run last-wicket stand with Jacob Duffy (15).
India's chase: Rohit Sharma fell for a six-ball duck to Kyle Jamieson; Kohli was 29 not out and Gill 17 not out when rain stopped play at 54 for 1 in 10.5 overs.
Revised target: Play resumed at 1:35 PM IST with a revised Duckworth-Lewis-Stern target of 167 in 40 overs; India needed 113 from 175 balls.
Series: First of five ODIs; next matches in Wellington on 7 November and Hamilton on 10 November.
Background and Context
Reports from Auckland described a throwback display, with the seamers dragging New Zealand back to an era of lower totals on a surface offering movement and bounce. Kamboj's 10 overs cost just 22 runs.
Tickner is a fast bowler by trade, which made his batting explosion surprising. Walking in at number 11 with his side nine down, he cleared his front leg and swung freely, clearing the boundary over the bowler's head and over long-on.
What Happens Next?
India's immediate task is to complete the revised chase of 167 in 40 overs and take a 1-0 lead. With Kohli in fluent touch and Gill at the other end, India were well placed at the resumption. The series then moves to Wellington for the second ODI on 7 November, where New Zealand must rebuild their batting.
FAQs
Who is Blair Tickner? A New Zealand fast bowler who debuted against India in a Twenty20 international at Eden Park in 2019.
What did Tickner score? 34 off 23 balls, with one four and four sixes, including three sixes in one over from Arshdeep Singh.
What was New Zealand's total? 185 in 40.2 overs in the first ODI at Eden Park on 4 November 2026.
What is India's revised target? 167 in 40 overs, after rain interrupted the chase at 54 for 1; play resumed at 1:35 PM IST.
When is the next ODI? The second ODI is in Wellington on 7 November 2026.
Sources and Verification
The Indian Express, 4 November 2026: India bowled New Zealand out for 185 in 40.2 overs; Arshdeep 4 for 70; Tickner hit three sixes in one over.
Deccan Chronicle, 4 November 2026: New Zealand 185 all out (Seifert 38, Tickner 34; Arshdeep 4 for 70, Brar 3 for 44, Kamboj 2 for 22).
News18 live coverage, 4 November 2026: match resumed at 1:35 PM IST, revised target 167 in 40 overs; Brar dismissed Tickner caught behind.
Moneycontrol live coverage, 4 November 2026: Rohit fell for a six-ball duck to Jamieson; Kohli and Gill took India to 54 for 1; revised target 167 in 40 overs.
Jagran Josh, 4 November 2026: Tickner's 34 off 23 balls, one four and four sixes, strike rate 147.83; debut against India at Eden Park in 2019.
