Phillips 107 powers New Zealand to 87-run win over India

Glenn Phillips smashed 107 off 49 balls and Jacob Duffy took four wickets as New Zealand beat India by 87 runs in the fourth T20I at Eden Park, Auckland, on Friday, 30 October 2026, to cut India's series lead to 3-1.

By StoryTimesNow News Desk — 30 October 2026, 11:06 PM IST

Symbolic illustration of a floodlit cricket ground at night, with a green outfield, a central pitch and a ball arcing through the sky.
Symbolic illustration of a floodlit cricket ground at night, not a photograph of the match.

Key Takeaways

  • What happened: New Zealand beat India by 87 runs in the fourth T20I at Eden Park, Auckland, on 30 October 2026, their first win of the five-match series.
  • Who is affected: India still lead the series 3-1, but the heavy defeat ends their unbeaten T20I run in New Zealand and gives the hosts momentum for the finale.
  • What next: the fifth and final T20I will be played in Hamilton on Sunday, 1 November 2026, where India will aim to close out a 4-1 win.

New Zealand handed India their first defeat of the T20I series on Friday, 30 October 2026, winning the fourth match at Eden Park, Auckland, by 87 runs. Phillips smashed 107 off 49 balls and Bracewell hit 65 off 25 as the hosts posted 259 for 7, the highest T20I total by any side against India. India, chasing 260, finished on 172 for 9.

What Happened?

India won the toss and chose to bowl first, but New Zealand batted with authority from the start. When the hosts were 112 for 4 in the 11th over, Phillips and Bracewell came together and changed the game, adding 115 runs in just 40 balls. Phillips cleared the boundary 10 times on his way to 107, while Bracewell struck at a rate that kept India under constant pressure.

Mayank Yadav finished as the pick of India's bowlers with three wickets for 48 runs, but New Zealand still closed on 259 for 7, collecting 85 runs in the final five overs. The chase never got going: Duffy removed Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan early, and India kept losing wickets in clusters. Tilak Varma top-scored with 35, and Naman Dhir made 28, but no partnership threatened a target of 260. Duffy finished with four wickets for 23 runs, Mitchell Santner took two for 24, and India ended on 172 for 9. Phillips was named player of the match.

Why Does This Matter?

The margin matters as much as the result. An 87-run defeat is, according to CricTracker, India's second-biggest defeat by runs in T20I cricket, behind only a 125-run loss to England earlier in 2026. It also ended a long run of Indian success in New Zealand: Outlook India reported that India had gone 10 straight T20Is in New Zealand without defeat between 2020 and 2026 before Friday's loss.

The result does not change who wins the series: India had already sealed the five-match contest by winning the first three games, so it now stands at 3-1 rather than 4-0. But it does change the story of the tour, as New Zealand, outplayed in the first three matches, finally found the batting performance their home crowds had waited for.

Important Details

  • Result: New Zealand beat India by 87 runs in the fourth T20I at Eden Park, Auckland, on 30 October 2026.
  • New Zealand: 259 for 7 in 20 overs (Glenn Phillips 107 off 49 balls, Michael Bracewell 65 off 25; Mayank Yadav 3 for 48).
  • India: 172 for 9 in 20 overs (Tilak Varma 35, Naman Dhir 28; Jacob Duffy 4 for 23, Mitchell Santner 2 for 24).
  • Key partnership: Phillips and Bracewell added 115 runs in 40 balls after New Zealand were 112 for 4.
  • Records: 259 for 7 is the highest T20I total by any side against India.
  • Series: India lead 3-1 with one match remaining.
  • Next match: the fifth and final T20I in Hamilton on Sunday, 1 November 2026.

Background and Context

India arrived in Auckland with the series already won, having taken the first three matches, including a thrilling win in Christchurch sealed by Tilak Varma's unbeaten 51. The fourth match began in similar fashion, with Mayank Yadav striking twice early after India chose to bowl, but that promise faded as Phillips and Bracewell took charge. Eden Park has a reputation as a high-scoring ground, and Friday's game lived up to it. Duffy, meanwhile, bettered Trent Boult's previous best figures by a New Zealand bowler against India in T20Is, according to CricTracker, with his four wickets for 23 runs surpassing Boult's four for 34 at Rajkot.

What Happens Next?

The series moves to Hamilton for the final match on Sunday, 1 November 2026. India will aim to finish 4-1 and restore the authority they showed in the first three games, while New Zealand will try to make it 3-2 and carry momentum out of the series.

FAQs

Who won the fourth T20I between India and New Zealand?

New Zealand won by 87 runs at Eden Park, Auckland, on 30 October 2026, scoring 259 for 7 before restricting India to 172 for 9.

Who leads the T20I series?

India lead 3-1 after four matches. India had already won the series by taking the first three games, so the final match in Hamilton on 1 November 2026 decides whether the series ends 4-1 or 3-2.

Who were the standout performers in Auckland?

Glenn Phillips (107 off 49 balls) and Michael Bracewell (65 off 25) powered New Zealand's batting, while Jacob Duffy took four wickets for 23 runs.

Sources and Verification

  • Outlook India, 30 October 2026, 7:13 pm: 87-run win, Phillips 107, New Zealand 259/7, India 172/9. URL: https://www.outlookindia.com/amp/story/sports/cricket/india-vs-new-zealand-4th-t20i-unbeaten-run-record-broken
  • CricTracker, 30 October 2026, 16:31 IST (updated 17:19 IST): match review, Phillips-Bracewell stand, Mayank Yadav 3/48, Hamilton finale 1 November. URL: https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-news/nz-vs-ind-2026-new-zealand-vs-india-highlights-review-4th-t20i-1123/?amp=1
  • IANS via ianslive, 30 October 2026: Phillips 107, Bracewell 65, New Zealand 259/7, India 172/9, series 3-1. URL: https://ianslive.in/4th-t20i-phillips-duffy-guide-nz-to-87-run-win-over-india--20261030163449
  • Onmanorama, 30 October 2026, 16:51 IST: brief scores, New Zealand 259/7, India 172/9, Duffy 4/23. URL: https://www.onmanorama.com/sports/cricket/2026/10/30/india-vs-new-zealand-fourth-t20i.html
  • Asianet Newsable, 30 October 2026, 5:23 pm IST: Phillips 107 off 49, New Zealand 259/7, India 172/9. URL: https://newsable.asianetnews.com/amp/gallery/sports/cricket-nz-vs-ind-4th-t20i-glenn-phillips-explosive-107-run-knock-triggers-record-breaking-spree-in-auckland-9szmy04

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Editorial Note

Verified on 30 October 2026 against the sources listed above. Where sources differed on secondary details, those details were left out rather than guessed. The hero image is symbolic, not a photograph of the match.