New Zealand vs India IND in NZ, 5 T20Is, 2026, Full Score Card

An aggressive delivery from Nathan Smith to end, and New Zealand win by 87 runs. This is a quick bumper over middle stump. The ball hurries off the deck with some extra bounce and Prince Yadav is beaten all ends up as he tries to pull it away. A dot to end proceedings, and the hosts pick up their first win of the series, but are still down 3-1.

SIX! A bit of entertainment late on from Prince Yadav. Hard length over off stump, Prince hangs back and climbs into the shot, forcing the lofted shot down the ground for a six.

Skiddy length again, darting back into the batter. Mayank Yadav defends it down past the strip on the leg side and Prince calls him through for another quick single.

Good length at the stumps, swung away without much timing, over mid on and for a single.

That's poor cricket all-round. Back of a length and at the batter, Mayank gets cramped up and dabs it down in front of point. Prince Yadav calls him through for a single but Mayank is late to react. Finn Allen from cover picks the ball up and has all the time to get a direct hit in at the bowler's end, but he rushes and fires in a wide throw, allowing the batter to get home.

Ooh, extra bounce! Skiddy length over off and middle, takes off a bit after pitching. Mayank Yadav is taken aback and gets it off the handle of the blade.

Nathan Smith (3-0-38-0) will bowl the final over. He is the only wicketless bowler for the Kiwis. Can he end his night with a breakthrough?

FOUR! Edged away! Back of a length and around off, carrying through sharply. Prince Yadav hangs back and tries to glide it away but gets an outside edge wide of the keeper and the ball races away into the deep third fence.

Hard length outside off, dabbed down through the short third region for a single.

Mayank Yadav is the last batter in for India.

OUT! CAUGHT! That is an excellent take from Tim Seifert, and Tilak Varma is finally put out of his misery. Matthew Fisher hits a good length and keeps the ball around off stump. Varma hangs deep and makes room, swinging wildly across the line. The ball gets skewed high into the night sky and comes down near the backward point region. The keeper calls for it, and keeps his eyes under the swirling ball, gloving it brilliantly with a forward dive. New Zealand are just one wicket away from the win now.

Hard length outside off, Varma hangs back to go through the off side but slices it away to deep cover.

A bit premeditated by Varma. He goes back and across to the off side and Fisher shortens the length, banging it into the deck and following Varma outside the off stump. This is awkwardly played down to mid off.

Errs in line, does Fisher and that gets Varma back on strike. Good length, angling down leg, Prince Yadav tucks it off his pads and down to fine leg for a single.

Just the last rites being read. Matthew Fisher (3-0-34-1) will bowl the penultimate over.

Excellent change-up from Milne, and this time, Tilak Varma won't be able to pick a single off the final ball. Slower ball, on a length and pushed across off. Varma steps out and looks to ease it through the off side but misses. They don't go for the bye either.

Looking for a wide call, but Varma won't get it. Milne goes full and wide again, almost hugging the tramline, and Varma leaves it alone.

SIX! Cheeky again from Varma. Full and outside off, Tilak lunges across and goes down for the scoop, nailing it back over the keeper's head for a six.

Good bumper, really well directed by Milne. Banged in a bit short and around leg stump, Varma ducks under it as the ball goes over his right shoulder.

It's just dots and a few boundaries in between right now, mixed with the odd single off the final ball of the over. Full and fast, around off, Varma clears the front leg and drills it to mid off.

Milne jams in a yorker around leg stump. Varma gets cramped for room and only manages to jam it out towards mid-wicket for a dot ball.

Again, an easy single off the final ball, helping Tilak keep strike. Full and outside off, bunted out to the right of cover for a single.

Getting a bit funky out there, is Tilak Varma. Hard length outside off, Varma tries some sort of reverse-pull shot, trying to get it fine but misses out on the connection.

SIX! That's nicely done. Smith misses his mark with the yorker and serves a full toss on leg stump. Tilak Varma shuffles across and gets inside the line, helping it off the face of the blade and all the way over fine leg for six runs. 150 up now for India.

No timing on it. Full-pitched delivery outside off, Varma gets low and scythes it away on the bounce to the deep cover fielder. No single taken yet again.

Back of a length, tighter line around off. Varma stays back and angles it gently down to short third. Another dot ball.

Brilliantly fielded. Smith goes full and wide, and Tilak Varma has to reach for it. Varma toe-ends it to the left of short third, where Matthew Fisher dives across and makes a sharp stop.

Nathan Smith (2-0-31-0) is back on.

Pitched up around middle, Varma leans on and clips it through square leg for one, and manages to farm the strike for the new over.

Short-pitched delivery around leg, comes in at shoulder height and Varma misses the pull. No wide is called either.

Full again, this time at the toes, Varma jams the drive down to long on and opts against the single.

FOUR! Flat and hard, and past the fielder in a flash. Pitched up at the stumps, Varma clears the front leg and hammers it just to the left of the mid off fielder and picks up a boundary.

SIX! Up and over! Hard length by Milne, just outside off. Tilak Varma hangs back and slams it away flat over mid off, and the ball sails right onto the boundary ropes for a six.

Good length in the channel, angling away. Varma hops back to cut but is well beaten.

Jacob Duffy is bowled out, and Adam Milne comes back in to replace him.

Just in! But full marks for the intensity shown by Santner. A full, wide delivery outside off that drifts away with generous flight. Tilak shuffles across before flicking it to the leg side for a risky single. Santner charges to his left on the follow-through and unleashes a direct hit off a rocket throw at the striker's end, with Seifert already celebrating. But the replay shows that Prince has made it home and survives by the narrowest of margins. Santner finishes off with another frugal spell - 2/24 in 4 overs for him. Simply sensational.

Is that a run-out? Tim Seifert seems fairly confident, and the third umpire is asked to have a look. However, replays show that Prince Yadav is comfortably in. NOT OUT!

Fuller length outside off. 94 kph. Tilak opens the bat face and dabs it to short third.

Darted in on a fuller length, outside off, Tilak gets down on a knee to slog, but mistimes it back to the bowler.

DROPPED! Matthew Fisher is the guilty party. Santner potentially could have four wickets tonight. Lands it full and at the pads, floated slower through the air. Prince drops to one knee for the slog sweep but can only top edge it high towards square leg. Fisher tries to himself beneath it, gets both hands to the ball, but spills it, allowing a single.

Tossed up, full and outside off, Prince stretches forward and drives it to short cover.

Flatter and fuller, outside off, Tilak lunges and slaps it to the left of the diving cover fielder for a single.

Hard length angled on the leg stump with extra bounce. The ball arrives at an awkward height but Prince somehow manages to fence it to the leg side.

Slower one by the looks of it, short in length, Tilak controls the pull shot to widish deep mid-wicket for a single.

Another brilliant piece of teamwork in the deep! Short on leg, Tilak stands tall and swats it between long on and deep mid-wicket. Nathan Smith comes sliding across to his right, cuts it off before making contact with the ropes and lobs the ball to Daryl Mitchell, who converges from long on. He relays the throw to the bowling end as the batters hustle back for two.

Straight up, but falls safely! Hammers it short and aims at the bodyline, Tilak attempts the pull but is late into the shot, sending a top edge looping into no man's land around mid on.

Beaten! Varma shows his cards early by advancing down the track and Duffy bangs it short, follows the batter to cramp him for room. Tilak dangles the bat away from his body to block it, but it sneaks past the inside edge.

Outside off on a fullish length, Tilak stays leg side and cuts it to deep backward point. No run taken.

Spins away from a fractionally fuller length, Yadav steers it to backward point.

Quicker now, on off, Yadav covers the stumps and stabs it to mid off.

As Prince charges down to launch it down the ground, Santner cleverly takes the pace off, floating one at 77 kph on a length outside off. Yadav adjusts late and soft-hands it towards cover-point.

FOUR! Runs away! Drifted down the leg stump on a fuller length, Prince gets down on a knee and sweeps it off the inner half of the bat. There's no protection at deep fine leg and the ball speeds away to the fence.

Too full, wide of off, Yadav can't get under it and drags it back to the bowler.

Slower through the air, full and outside off, Yadav pushes it to mid off.

A yorker outside off, Prince jams the bat down and carves it behind point for a single.

Zipped through! Short and angled in from outside off, Prince hops in his crease and tries to dab it towards point, only for the ball to climb past the outside edge.

Length on the stumps. Prince blocks it into the leg side.

Wide! Spilled down leg at 136 kph, Yadav misses to flick. Seifert dives to his left and grabs it. He appeals for caught behind, but nothing doing.

Which one of the two Yadavs walks out to bat next? It will be Prince Yadav to come in and face the hat-trick ball.

OUT! GONE! Another one bites the dust! Short of a good length, outside off, Arshdeep Singh leans back a bit and carves it aerially towards deep backward point, offering a straightforward catch to Bevon Jacobs, who makes no mistake this time around. India are 121/8 down now and Duffy is on a Hat Trick.

Arshdeep Singh is the new batter in.

OUT! Sensational effort in the deep - involving Mitchell and Smith and Duffy strikes upon his return, claiming his second. Back of a length and around off, Dhir stands tall and swats it high towards the right of long on. Mitchell sprints across, takes the catch cleanly, but realises his momentum is carrying him over the boundary. He tosses the ball back into play before stepping over, and Nathan Smith, rushing in from deep mid-wicket, overruns before turning back and diving to complete a brilliant relay catch. India are 121/7, needing 139 more.

Is that a stunning relay catch? Surely seems like it. Daryl Mitchell had the presence of mind to lob it back to the onrushing fielder, but it was a tad too wide. However, Nathan Smith shows great athleticism and grabs it brilliantly. OUT.

Short and outside off, Tilak cuts it to deep point for a single.

Jacob Duffy (2-0-17-2) is back on.

Fired into the batter on a good length, Dhir tucks it with soft hands to widish deep mid-wicket and they hustle back for the second run.

DROPPED AND SIX! Jacobs puts down an easy chance. He's had his fair share of issues with dropped catches in this series. Santner has his hands on his head as he just can't believe it. A bit full and outside off, Dhir reaches out and lofts it inside out over extra cover. Bevon Jacobs runs to his right, tries to catch it with a reverse cup, but the ball just bursts through his hands and drops beyond the fence.

A bit too full, on leg, Tilak leans on and clips it to the mid-wicket region for a single.

Into the batter, on a good length, Dhir dinks it through wide mid on for an easy single.

Darted on a length, around off, not letting Varma free his arms. He can only jab it down to long on for a single.

Wide! Pushed far across the left-hander, outside off at 91 kph. It breaches the tramline. Tilak leaves.

On a lower trajectory, outside off, Dhir slaps it through cover-point for a single.

Drinks Break! It's one-way traffic at the moment. New Zealand can see the finish line and would want to break this partnership as quickly as possible. India, on the other hand, have managed to score at over 10 runs per over, but with the required run rate being above 15, and with just four wickets in hand, it's a near-impossible task to achieve. Still, Dhir and Tilak won't go down without a fight. India need 153 runs in 60 balls. Mitchell Santner will continue after the break. 2/4 in 1 over so far.

Hard length on off and middle, stabbed down through wide mid on for a single.

SIX! Overpitched and punished! A full ball on off, Naman nicely leans forward and just plays a checked-drive over mid off, and times it sublimely for a six.

FOUR! Now, that's a bit unfortunate for the bowler, but the 100 is up for India. A cross-seamer, very full and outside off. Naman Dhir jams the bat down, and toe-ends it back into the turf as the ball flies past the keeper and into the deep third fence.

FOUR! Down the wrong line, and Naman Dhir makes hay. A length ball on the pads, Naman stays inside the line and just flicks it down to the vacant long leg fence for a boundary.

Good length at the stumps, Dhir picks it up and forces the heave uppishly down to the right of long on, and picks up a couple of runs.

Skiddy length, darting back in from around middle. Naman Dhir stays back and jabs it across to mid-wicket.

Santner keeps proving why he is one of the best in business. Two big wickets and just 4 runs off his first over. Matthew Fisher (2-0-17-1) returns and replaces Nathan Smith.

Flatter again, sliding into the front pad. Naman stays back and tucks it through mid-wicket for a single.

Bowled flatter and around off, Naman Dhir hopes back and covers the line to defend.

The procession continues as the batters come and go. Naman Dhir is the next batter in. And this is India's last recognised batting pair in the middle now.

OUT! CAUGHT AND BOWLED! Sharp reactions again, and Mitchell Santner strikes twice in his first over, putting New Zealand within touching distance of a win. Slightly tossed up, a bit full as well and around off. Axar Patel sits down to slog it away but ends up flat-batting it back towards the bowler. Santner does well to leap up in his followthrough and get both hands on it. The ball gets parried back up and Santner pouches it brilliantly on the second attempt.

Nagging length on the pads, worked away behind square leg for a single.

Good fielding in the deep. Dragged length, angled wide of the off stump. Tilak Varma rocks back and slices the cut down to the left of deep backward point for a couple of runs.

It's going downhill for the Men in Blue now. 174 needed off 71 balls and Tilak Varma is in at number 7.

OUT! CAUGHT! Oh, that is a very sharp take from Michael Bracewell, and Mitchell Santner has 150 T20I wickets. Santner starts by lobbing one up, on a length and wide of the off stump. Nitish Kumar Reddy extends his arms and tries to pummel it away through the off side, but hits it flat and hard, and straight to extra cover. Bracewell snaffles it with both hands and Reddy cannot believe it. India are down to 86/5 now.

Here comes the tormentor-in-chief. Mitchell Santner is into the attack. He has been the best bowler for New Zealand this series by far.

In the air... safe! Hard length around middle and leg, Reddy swings at it wildly and miscues the heave, high and wide of long on. Daryl Mitchell runs across to his right and slides in to take it on the bounce. Mitchell then fires in a throw at the keeper's end as the batters get back for two runs, but it is a wide one and the ball runs away to deep third for an overthrow as well.

A bit of a halt in play. Reddy is rubbing his left shoulder. The umpire checks whether he needs the physio, but Reddy shakes it off and is fine to carry on.

Ouch! That must have hurt. Nathan Smith bowls a heavy ball, into the pitch and angles it in from around off stump. Nitish Kumar Reddy stands back to pull again but is rushed by the extra bounce and gets an inside edge onto the left shoulder. There's a cry of anguish from Reddy as well.

SIX! Off the top edge, and sailing way over the ropes. A skiddy short ball now, in and around off. Nitish Kumar Reddy swings hard at the pull and gets a top edge that flies over the keeper's head for a six.

Wide! Too high. Banged in short and around off, and this one sails over the batter's head.

SIX! A much better connection this time from Reddy. Fuller in length, angled into the leg pole. Nitish gets the front leg out of the way and tonks it over deep mid-wicket for a six.

DROPPED! A valiant effort from Bevon Jacobs and he even gets to the ball, but can't pouch it. Back of a length and over middle, another example of some extra bounce as Nitish Kumar Reddy gets rushed into the pull and miscues it badly towards mid-wicket. The ball hangs in the air for a while and Jacobs comes charging in from the deep. He puts in a lunging dive but the ball hits his wrists and goes down. Two taken.

Banged in a bit short and around off, Patel looks to make room and go over point but gets a top edge down to deep third for a single.

Tidy bowling from Fisher. Really full and angled across the left-hander. Axar Patel sits down and smothers it away on the full to deep backward point for a run more.

Fisher hits the deck hard, bowling it around the top of off. Nitish Kumar Reddy moves around in his crease before swatting it down, wide of mid off or just a single.

Axar misses another flick. Length ball, landing it around leg stump. Patel stays back and looks to work it away but the ball brishes off the pads and rolls down to fine leg for another leg bye.

Fuller in length and around off, Reddy doesn't quite get under it and drives it straight to mid off for a quick run.

Good-length delivery, targeting the pads. Patel gets pegged back and cramped for room, getting it off the pads to square leg for a leg bye.

A tad fuller and on off stump, darting it back in. Reddy pushes it down to the left of mid on and picks up a single.

End of the Powerplay. It has gone New Zealand's way without a doubt. At the same stage, the hosts were 67/2. India are 61/4. Matthew Fisher continues.

FOUR! Uppish, but just through the gap, and India end the Powerplay at 61/4. Milne hits a hard length and angles it across off, Patel hits on the up and slices it wide of the mid off fielder, and the ball skips away to the fence.

Full-pitched delivery on off stump, at 140 clicks. Axar Patel drives it wothout much timing to mid off.

Back of a length and around off, hitting the deck hard. Nitish Kumar Reddy presses back and glides it down to deep third for a single.

India are under the pump in Auckland in an enormous chase, which just keeps getting steeper. Nitish Kumar Reddy walks in at number 6.

OUT! BOWLED! Milne says, 'You miss, I hit,' and sends the Indian skipper packing. Adam Milne goes a bit fuller and bowls it faster at the stumps, around middle and leg. Shreyas Iyer hangs deep but moves around in the crease a bit too much, eventually backing away to go over the off side but he is undone for pace. The ball shatters into the stumps, and India are reeling at 56/4, still needing 204 more for the win.

FOUR! A bit fuller and sliding into the pads, Iyer plays a nice leg glance and gets it fine down to the fine leg fence and picks up a boundary.

Milne bowls it back of a length, in line with the stumps. Shreyas Iyer hops back and defends it down the pitch.

Adam Milne is back on to finish the Powerplay. 9 runs came off his first over.

At 141 kph, on a good length, on the fourth stump line. Iyer rides the bounce by hopping on the toes and glides it to the left of deep third. Adam Milne gets across and cuts it off. One run taken. 13 runs and a wicket off the over.

At the pads, full in length, whipped off the back foot to deep square leg for a single.

Smidge fuller on leg, Axar steers it to the mid-wicket region.

A big wicket in the context of the game, and New Zealand have three inside the Powerplay. Axar Patel walks out to bat at number 5 for India.

OUT! CAUGHT BY SANTNER! Fisher gets his moment of redemption. He bangs the length in hard around off and draws extra bounce out of the surface. Abhishek Sharma looks to lift it over mid off, but the ball rises quicker than expected and he can only skew it straight to Mitchell Santner. Having spilled one earlier, Santner boots the ball away in frustration before celebrating the wicket. The dangerous Abhishek is gone, and India slip to 50/3, still needing 210 from 93 balls.

Wide! A skiddy delivery at 143 kph, a wee bit short and down leg. Abhishek shapes up to tickle it fine on the leg side, but misses. 50 up for India, and they need 210 runs to win.

FOUR! PUNISHED! Putting the new bowler under the pump right away. Back of a length, around off, Abhishek gets the front leg out of the way to make room and slaps it over mid off for a cracking boundary.

SIX! Welcome to the attack, mate! Short of a length on middle and off, Abhishek picks the length in a trice and pulls it massively behind deep backward square leg for a biggie.

Switch of ends for Adam Milne? Nope, Matthew Fisher comes on to replace Jacob Duffy from this end.

FOUR! Just gets it through! A full toss at the leg stump by Nathan. Iyer thumps it through wide mid on. It teases the fielder who chases from mid on but beats his slide for a four.

Cannons in a full ball, on middle, Sharma tries to hoist it downtown, but fails to get under it and the ball squirts off the inner half to deep backward square leg for a single.

Skiddy delivery on the leg stump line, on a good length. Abhishek shuffles inside the line to help it behind to the leg side but misses.

Attacks the stumps by bashing it hard on a length. Iyer knocks it down to long on for a single.

FOUR! Edged away. This is pitched up a bit wide of the off stump. Shreyas Iyer gets across a bit and looks to loft it down the ground but gets a thick outside edge that flies down to deep third for a boundary.

Back of a length, around off, Iyer hops back and crunches it between cover and point. The ball just loses its steam in the outfield and is hunted down by the sub fielder, Devon Conway. Two runs taken.

An early bowling change, as Nathan Smith comes on to replace Adam Milne.

At 142 kph, it’s dug in short and angled into Abhishek after pitching outside leg. He hops across the line, rolls his wrists and steers the pull through backward square for a couple.

A slight delay as the wind has knocked one of the zing bails over. The umpire is getting it fixed, and we are good to go again.

A yorker at the toes, Sharma digs it out towards mid-wicket.

FOUR! Misfield by Smith. This is something you don't associate with New Zealand. Duffy drags it shorter and fires it outside off, Abhishek hangs back and pulls it away over mid-wicket. Smith charges in too hard to his right, loses his footing, slides past the ball and concedes four.

In the air... PUT DOWN! Brave effort by Santner. He did all the hard work, but just couldn't get the hold of it. Pitched up and wide outside off, Abhishek steps forward, looking to clear the infield, but the bat twists in his grip and he slices it off the toe end over mid off. Santner gives chase from the inner ring, running over his left shoulder. He keeps himself side-on to his left and dives near long off, only for the ball to burst through his hands. Two runs taken.

Swing and a miss! Short and angled across with extra bounce. Abhishek tries to flay it over cover-point, only to miss.

At the pads, shaping in, Iyer whips it to long leg for a single.

FOUR! Too good! Fuller delivery, on the leg stump, Abhishek Sharma jams the bat down and just jabs it over the bowler's head for a boundary. Before anyone could even move a muscle, it rifles to the fence.

Lovely timing, brilliant fielding. And chance of a run out, missed. Good cricket overall. Too full by Adam, around off, Iyer pummels it back past the bowler's left, but Santner plunges into the pool to his right from mid off and makes a fantastic stop. He is quick to spot that Abhishek is a bit slow off the blocks and releases a flat throw to the keeper's end. Tim Seifert runs forward but fails to collect the throw cleanly, allowing Sharma to skate in safely.

Fired on a fuller length, on the leg stump line, Abhishek misses his flick and the ball rolls off the front pad to the square leg region. They sneak in a leg bye.

Smartly bowled! Seeing Abhishek shuffling to the leg side to open up the off side, Milne spears in a full ball, far outside off, Sharma has a swing and a miss.

A smidge full and on the leg stump, Abhishek whips off the pads, playing it aerially. The ball drops in the vacant deep mid-wicket region and just slows down in the outfield. It is chased by the sweeper and the batters pick up a couple.

At the pads, full in length, shaping in, Abhishek clips it to deep fine leg for a couple of runs to get off the mark.

Adam Milne to steam in from the other end.

FOUR! Helped behind! Short of a length, at the hips. Iyer uses the pace by getting across and tickles it to the deep fine leg fence for a boundary.

A double strike for Jacob Duffy and New Zealand in the very first over, and India will feel the heat now. The Indian skipper, Shreyas Iyer, is the new batter in.

OUT! CAUGHT AND BOWLED! Double whammy for Duffy. The Kiwis are right over the Men in Blue now. Jacob goes full and on the leg stump line, Kishan drops to one knee, looking to whip it away, but shuts the bat face too early in the attempt. Hence, the ball takes the cue end of the bat and bobbles back to the bowler. Jacob Duffy keeps his cool, backtracks a bit and takes a simple return catch with a reverse cup. India are 4/2, chasing 260.

Beaten! Hits the deck really hard, does Duffy, outside off, Kishan tries to flay it over point but the ball wobbles away to beat his angled bat.

Too full on off, shaping in a touch, Kishan drills it to mid off.

Sanju Samson is back for an early shower, and out walks Ishan Kishan at number 3.

OUT! TOP EDGE AND CAUGHT! Four and out for Samson. The extra bounce does the trick for Duffy. He bangs it very short on top of the stumps, and extracts more bounce off the surface. Sanju backs away again to play the pull shot but the ball gets really big on him and he ends up spooning it off the top edge, over the keeper. Tim Seifert lurks under the swirling ball and takes a fine diving catch. India are 4/1, needing 256 runs.

FOUR! Back to business! Full from Duffy, swinging away from middle to off, Sanju backs away to make room, maintains his shape and lofts it over extra cover for an effortless boundary. India and Samson are off the mark in style!

FOUR! Off the edge, but he won't mind that at all. New Zealand finish with an enormous total of 259/7 on the board as 13 runs come off the final over. A touch full and outside the off stump, Nathan Smith swings for the hills, gets a thick leading edge and it sails over short third. No protection in the deep and the ball dribbles into the fence.

Swing and a miss! Back of a length, outside the off stump, Smith shuffles a bit to play the reverse scoop but fails to lay bat on the ball.

Misses the yorker and slips in a full toss at shin height, on middle, Smith pummels it over mid-wicket. Tilak Varma swoops across and collects it on the bounce. He throws it to the bowling end as the batters scamper back for the second run.

A yorker at the toes from around the wicket, Adam clears the front leg and drills it to long on for a single.

The next batter is Adam Milne.

OUT! CAUGHT! End of a highly entertaining knock from Phillips. He has put the Kiwis in a really strong position here. Pitched up and angled outside off. Phillips tries to carve it over extra cover but doesn't get beneath it, slicing it straight to Abhishek Sharma at deep extra cover, who moves to his right and pouches it cleanly. Phillips walks off to a huge standing ovation from one and all at Eden Park. Richly deserved and New Zealand are 253/7.

SIX! Phillips marches on! 250 up for New Zealand! Bowls a full delivery from around the stumps, angling it wide outside off. Glenn Phillips swings hard with all his might, gets a bit of a top edge but it sails all the way over deep third. Samson there just watches it like a bystander.

Nathan Smith is the new batter in. New Zealand have just gone past the highest-ever T20I total at Eden Park, but how much more can they get? Here's Nitish Kumar Reddy (3-0-51-0) to bowl the final over. Also, India are penalized for a slow over rate and will have one less boundary rider in the final over.

OUT! EASY CATCH! A short stay for Santner as Arshdeep picks up his 150th T20I wicket. Almost a yorker and wide outside off, tempting Santner into a shot that was never in his arc. He stretches, throws the bat at it and can only slice it straight to Nitish Kumar Reddy at deep point. New Zealand are 246/6, with 6 legal balls remaining in the first innings.

At 133 kph, on a length, outside off, Santner punches it crisply to extra cover but cannot get it through the gap.

Back of a length on the leg stump. Santner hangs back and heaves it to the right of deep mid-wicket for a couple.

Wide yorker, outside off, carved to the deep third region for a single.

SIX! HUNDRED FOR GLENN PHILLIPS! An outstanding knock from the best batter of this T20I series. That's his 3rd T20I century. He has just got better and better with every match. Full ball by Arshdeep, outside the off stump, Glenn Phillips gets underneath it properly and belts it over long off. It looked so, so effortless. Off comes the helmet, up goes the bat, and his teammates rise to salute a truly special innings.

Again, it's thrown wide outside off, a full toss from Singh. Glenn Phillips throws the kitchen-sink at it and slices it between deep point and deep cover for a couple of runs.

Wide! Three extras in a row! Arshdeep is under the pump now. Keeps bowling outside the tramline with those wide yorkers. GP shows no interest again.

Wide again! Pushes it miles outside off and it breaches the guideline by a fair margin now. Phillips is happy to leave.

Wide! Arshdeep tries to keep it away from the hitting arc, and bowls a very full delivery but it cuts across the tramline on the off side. Phillips has a swing and a miss. Kishan is not happy with the wide call.

Two overs to go. Arshdeep Singh has one left, and probably Nitish Kumar Reddy will bowl the other one. It will be Arshdeep Singh (3-0-24-0) to bowl the crucial penultimate over.

An outstanding yorker on middle, Glenn Phillips cannot quite get underneath it and carves it down to long on for a single. Just 6 runs and a wicket from this over and Prince wraps up his spell with figures of 1/49 in 4 overs.

Wide! A slower bouncer, 119 kph, but too high, over the head on the leg stump. Phillips lets it spring back to the keeper.

Too full and outside off, Santner mistimes the lofted shot, but manages to get it over Axar at mid off for a single.

Beaten! Pushes it wide outside off, full in length, Santner tries to shovel it over covers, swings his bat hard, only to miss. This has been a solid over so far from Prince. Just 3 runs off the first four balls, and a wicket.

Fuller and outside off at 133 kph, Mitchell Santner drives it to the deep extra cover region. Axar sprints to his right from long off and cuts it off. Two runs taken.

Seems like a similar script as India start nailing their yorkers at the death. Out walks Mitchell Santner to bat next.

OUT! LBW! Prince gets the big fish and breaks a breathless 115-run stand. A pinpoint yorker, aimed at the sticks. Michael Bracewell moves across in the crease and tries to play the scoop shot again, but misses. The ball passes very close to the bat before it strikes his right front pad. A huge shout for LBW and up goes the finger. Michael Bracewell has opted for a review straightaway, though. It looks pretty straight if there's no bat involved. UltraEdge shows a clear gap as the ball dips below his bat. Ball Tracking confirms three reds, with the ball projected to crash into the leg stump. Bracewell takes the review with him, but with his 65 off just 25, he has changed the momentum of this game completely in the hosts' favor. New Zealand are 227/5, with still 2.4 overs remaining in the innings.

Lasers it on the legs, full in length, Phillips shovels it down to long on for a single.

Another bowling change as Prince Yadav is back on. He's gone for 43 off his 3 overs so far.

Wide yorker, and slanted across the batter. Bracewell throws his bat at it and tries to squeeze it out in the off side but fails to put bat on ball.

SIX! Absolute mayhem at Eden Park! Short of a length, on the leg stump with pace taken off, Michael gets into a great position and has enough time to hook it over deep square leg for a cracking six. Effortless hitting.

In the air... lands safely! Banged in short, angled across from off stump at 116 kph. Bracewell picks the slower ball, hops and attempts the pull, but miscues it off the top edge. The ball hangs in the night sky for an age but it drops safely in the no-man's land around mid-wicket for two.

SIX! And again! This is outstanding batting. Very full by Mayank, on the leg stump line. Michael moves to the off side, gets as low as possible and nails the scoop shot once again, clearing deep fine leg fence for half a dozen more.

A bit too full and around leg stump at 141 kph. Bracewell clears his front leg and swings across the line, but misses to connect and takes it on the body.

SIX! Five sixes on the bounce for New Zealand, and that's 3rd T20I FIFTY for Bracewell. He gets there in just 19 balls. That also brings up the 100-run stand between this pair. Full from Mayank on the stumps, Michael Bracewell shuffles a bit to the off side, uses the pace of the ball and scoops it over the keeper's head for a six.

Glenn Phillips has gone past 250 runs in this series now, and today seems to be his best knock thus far. New Zealand will surely target the 250-run mark. Mayank Yadav (3-0-28-3) is back on to finish his spell as India desperately search for a breakthrough.

SIX! Phillips at his very best. He moves to 90 with the fourth consecutive six in the over. 32 runs off the over. This is pitched around off and on a fuller length, Glenn waits for it by standing deep in the crease and bludgeons it over the long off fence for another massive six.

SIX! Goes the distance! Nitish has been taken the cleaners here as the 200 comes up for New Zealand! Full and wide again, Glenn Phillips throws his hands at it, trying to sail it over covers, but he gets a bit of an outside edge and the ball is sliced over deep third for a six.

SIX! The ball is just sailing over the fence! That's Phillips' sixth six tonight as he gallops to 78 off just 40. Another full delivery, outside off, Glenn Phillips hits it through the line and with no intentions to keep it down, he launches it high and far behind long off for a biggie.

SIX! SMASHED! A juicy half-volley, wide of off, Phillips isn't sparing those looseners. He frees his arms and effortlessly lofts it over deep cover for a cracking six.

Good hustle! Nitish hammers in a yorker, wide outside the off stump. Glenn reaches for it, and carves it to deep backward point for a brace.

NO BALL AND FOUR! Oh, dear! That's a wild full toss, at chest height by Nitish. Phillips does extremely well, though. He stays deep in the crease and nails the pull shot over the leg side. It lands right between the converging deep square leg and long on fielders and trickles into the fence. Free Hit to follow.

Poor review by India! Spears in a full ball from around the stumps, angling in. Michael shuffles to play the scoop shot but looks like he gets a bit of an inside edge onto the flap of the front pad before the ball deflects to deep fine leg for a single. Nitish appeals for LBW, but it is turned down. Shreyas Iyer consults with the keeper, but Kishan is not that confident, but still, India review it. UltraEdge shows a clear spike when the ball is close to the bat.

A quiet over amid the mayhem. Last 5 overs left. New Zealand look well on course to breach 200, or even 220. Nitish Kumar Reddy (2-0-19-0) is back into the attack.

Excellent from Arshdeep Singh, given the circumstances, only 7 runs off it. Full and wide, on the money again. Michael Bracewell opens the bat face and steers it down to deep backward point for a single.

Attempted wide yorker, ends up being a low full toss. Bracewell reaches out and hits it wide of long off for a couple of quic runs.

A direct hit, and Glenn Phillips certainly would have been gone. Full-pitched delivery, angling it across off. Phillips cuts under the ball, slicing it to extra cover and sets off for the single. Shreyas Iyer has one stump to aim at the bowler's end but fires in a wide throw, allowing Phillips to make his ground.

Wide! Full and wde again, but this is sprayed beyond the tramline outside the off stump.

Full and wide again, Bracewell extends those long levers, and opens the bat face to lift it over the point region for a single in the deep.

Cleverly done by Singh. A slower bumper now, dug in well short and around off. Michael Bracewell tries to reach up and ramp it down to deep third but is well beaten.

Full and wide, right on the money. Phillips has to really reach for it, and jams it out to covers for a single.

Some really big overs are being constructed here and to stop the carnage, Arshdeep Singh is summoned back on. 2-0-17-0 are his bowling figures so far.

Oh, that's an outrageous attempt from Phillips. Quick and flat, on a good length and outside off. Phillips goes for the switch-hit and ends up top-edging it over mid off. Naman Dhir comes in from the deep and ends up overrunning the ball as the wind takes it just over his head. Single taken, and 20 runs come off that over.

At 100 kph, fired outside off on a length. Bracewell shuffles across a bit and cuts it to deep cover for a single.

FOUR! The length is shortened now and this is pushed wide of the off stump. Bracewell rocks back and slaps it flat over the point fielder for yet another boundary. That brings up the 50-run partnership between Phillips and Bracewell in a super quick time.

SIX! Launched into orbit and Michael Bracewell is playing a blinder here. Axar tosses this one up, pitching it around off. Bracewell just hits through the line and whacks it down the ground for a biggie.

FOUR! That's just begging to be hit. A juicy full toss on the pads, Bracewell swings it away, not cleanly but fine of the fielder at deep backward square leg for another boundary.

FOUR! Good effort from Naman Dhir, and he gets a hand on it, but can't stop the boundary. Flatter one, darted across off. Michael Bracewell sits down and smears it away between long on and deep mid-wicket for four runs. 150 up for New Zealand.

34 runs in the last 2 overs for the Blackcaps and they are back on track. Phillips is going about his business, but Bracewell, too, has come out with an aggressive intent. Axar Patel (2-0-23-1) returns, replacing Naman Dhir.

This time Prince gets the full ball spot-on. Landing it in the blockhole and just outside off. Bracewell digs it out wide of point and picks up a single.

Hard length on the pads, this is clipped away to the right of the deep backward square leg fielder for a couple of easy runs.

SIX! A bit too full again from Prince, and he pays the price, 15 already off the over. Full and straight, Michael Bracewell gets under the ball and clobbers it straight back down the ground for a biggie. Bracewell has come out swinging here.

A skiddy short ball, on off stump and this is pulled away in front of square leg for a single.

SIX! Now, that is a sublime stroke from Phillips. Full-pitched again by Prince, landing it on off stump. Phillips covers the line and just hits through the line, doesn't even power it, just times it and sends the ball sailing over long off.

Mistimed, but good enough for two runs, and Glenn Phillips brings up yet another FIFTY, his 3rd in this series and that's his 15th T20I half-century. Pitched up around off, Phillips is late on the lofted shot and shanks it over extra cover for a couple of runs.

Prince Yadav replaces Mayank Yadav. 2-0-25-0 so far.

SIX! Clean strike from Bracewell, making it 16 runs in the over. Dhir throws this one wide of the off stump, asking the batter to go after it. Bracewell uses those long levers and launches it over deep extra cover for a biggie.

Dragged length, pushed through flatter and on leg stump. Phillips hops back and stabs it down with a vertical bat through wide mid on for a single.

FOUR! Phillips now finds the gap square on the leg side as well. Floated up on leg stump, Phillips slog-sweeps and gets it aerially down to the left of deep square leg for another boundary.

This is tossed up, full and on off. Bracewell drives it down to long off and picks up a single.

FOUR! Michael Bracewell picks the gap well here. Fractionally short and angled into the body, Bracewell stays back and pulls it away between deep backward square leg and deep mid-wicket for a boundary.

On a good length and tighter around off. Bracewell rocks back and cuts it off the outside edge to short third.

Good little phase for the tourists. Just 9/1 in the last 2 overs. Righto, it's time for Naman Dhir to roll his arm over.

There to be hit, but Phillips misses out. Scrambled-seam delivery, a bit fuller and well wide of the off stump. Phillips throws his hands at it but fails to lay a bat on it.

Back of a length and around off, dabbed down through backward point for a single.

Good heat from Mayank as he picks up his third wicket. India will now feel that they are ahead in the game and can restrict the Kiwis to below 200. Michael Bracewell is the new batter in. A slip in place.

OUT! CAUGHT! Mayank Yadav does what he was brought on to do, and gets a timely wicket for his side. A surprise short ball now, dug in quick and short around off, at 142 kph. Bevon Jacobs tries to pull off the back foot but the ball gets big on him, and Jacobs completely miscues the pull, lobbing it off the top edge towards mid-wicket. Arshdeep Singh takes a regulation catch, and New Zealand are now 4 down for 112.

Length again from Yadav, just outside off. Jacobs stands tall and lifts it high and wide of sweeper cover for a couple of runs.

That's well bowled. Good length again, darted in straighter, and getting the ball inside Phillips' swinging arc. Phillips goes deep in the crease and tries to whip it leg side but gets hit on the inner thigh. The ball rolls past the off stump and the batters get a leg bye.

Swing and a miss! On a good length, pitched wide outside off and angling back in a bit. Phillips stays back and goes hard at the cut but misses.

DRINKS! New Zealand seem to be on course for a big total, just as they did in the last game. Glenn Phillips is well set and Bevon Jacobs has the ability to score quick runs. The challenge for them will be to keep wickets in hand and improve their death-over batting. India would love a wicket or two after the drinks break, otherwise, this could end up being a huge first-innings total. Let's see how the second half of the first innings pans out. Also, Mayank Yadav (2-0-25-2) is brought back into the attack, probably for one over as India look for a breakthrough.

In-angler on a good length, Glenn Phillips backs away and jabs it to the vacant mid-wicket region. Axar himself chases the ball and keeps it down to a single only. Smart defensive bowling by Axar in this over as he concedes just 5 runs.

A wee bit short, on leg, angling in. Jacobs heaves it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Full again, outside off, quicker through the air. This is smashed by Jacobs to cover and Shreyas lets the ball through to the deep for a couple of runs.

Full and outside off, Bevon carves it to Shreyas at cover. A diving stop to his left and saves a few runs.

Flatter and fuller, outside off, Phillips stays compact in the crease and slaps it to the cover-point fielder. A slight fumble on the pick up and that allows them to scoot through for a single.

Darted in at 95 kph, full on leg, Glenn Phillips tries to mow it over the leg side but inside edges on the front pad.

Hits the deck hard, on off, Glenn is rushed into the pull shot as the ball hits high on his bat. Gets it mistimed through mid-wicket for a single. A productive over for the Kiwis.

Back of a length, on the bodyline, Bevon knocks it down to long on for a single.

Hard length, around off, Glenn rides the bounce and taps it through cover-point for a single.

SIX! CLEAN STRIKE! Targets the middle and leg stumps with a full ball, Glenn Phillips stays deep in the crease, clears his front leg and muscles it over cow corner. It's hit with he wind so it sails deep into the stands for a massive six. Right off the middle of the blade. 100 comes up for New Zealand! In just 8.3 overs.

Fullish and outside off, Bevon tries to loft it down the ground but the ball nips in and squirts off the inner half of the bat through mid-wicket. One run taken.

A length-delivery, outside off, Phillips hops on the toes and steers it behind point for a single.

Bevon Jacobs walks out to bat at number 5.

OUT! TAKEN! Axar roars back in style with his arms aloft in relief. He bowls a quicker one into the pitch, wide outside off, Finn Allen weighs back, frees his arms and attempts to sail it over the off side, but mistimes it badly, offering a very straightforward catch to Abhishek Sharma at deep extra cover. Finn Allen's fun comes to an end as New Zealand are now 93/3.

Slows it up now, at 95 kph, Phillips lets the ball slide into him and nudges it wide of square leg for a single.

Around off at 102 kph, on a length, Allen clubs it on the bounce to a straightish long off for a single.

SIX MORE! Allen switching gears now! Another long-hop by Axar, drifting into the batter's body. Too predictable as Allen hangs back again and sends it sailing many rows deep in the stands behind deep mid-wicket.

SIX! That's gone many a mile! Dropped short by Axar, on middle and leg, Finn Allen picks the length early, goes deep inside the crease and pulls it handsomely over deep mid-wicket for a biggie. This brings up the 50-run stand between Allen and Phillips.

FOUR! Greeted to the attack with a boundary! Begins from 'round the stumps, and lands it full, sliding it down the leg stump. Allen rocks back and whips it to the left of short fine leg and the ball just speeds away.

Time for some spin now, as Axar Patel is brought into the attack.

Nagging length on middle and leg, Allen gets across and jabs it through mid-wicket for a single.

Hits the deck hard, 131 kph, outside off, Glenn square cuts it to deep point for a single.

Wide! Oh, dear me! That's gone horribly wrong for Reddy. He bangs it way, way too short and far outside the tramline. GP is happy to leave.

Attacks the leg stump with a length ball, does Nitish. Glenn Phillips hangs back and tries to steer it to the square leg region but the ball skids a bit, beats the inside edge and thuds on the thigh pad.

Wow, what a gust of wind! The umpire's hat has flown away to the boundary ropes.

FOUR! Poor delivery and it gets the treatment! Too full and straight down leg, Glenn Phillips picks it up and whips it aerially to pick up another boundary at long leg. GP moves to 30 off just 15 balls.

Low full toss, on leg, Allen whips it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Nip-backer on a good length, Finn Allen tries to punch it away but the ball skids through, takes the inside edge and deflects on the thigh pad.

Neither side will be too displeased with that Powerplay, but New Zealand are in the ascendancy at the moment. Also, Nitish Kumar Reddy comes on to bowl now, with the fielding restrictions lifted.

FOUR! Gets it through and New Zealand end their Powerplay with 67/2 on the board. Prince attempts the yorker, angling into leg stump but overcooks it slightly. Glenn Phillips takes it on the full, flicking it fine as the ball races away to the deep fine leg fence.

FOUR! Good effort, but goes in vain. Short of a length, climbing on the batter. That rushes Phillips a bit into the pull shot and he mistimes it over mid-wicket. The ball lands in the outfield and just plugs. It trickles to the fence as Arshdeep Singh dashes across to his right to flick the ball in, but it just seeps through and kisses the fence. Arshdeep signals it is a four, but the umpires want to have a second look at it. The replay confirms that it is a boundary.

At 133 kph, full and on off, Phillips strokes it straight to the mid off fielder.

SIX! THWACK! Fuller than a length, around the off stump, Glenn Phillips waits for the slower ball, pauses his bat swing for a millisecond and then just blasts it over long off for an 84-meter six.

Swing and a miss! This one just takes off from the runway. Good length and outside off, Phillips lines up for the pull but the ball springs over his bat and carries through to the keeper.

Attacks the stumps with a length ball, Glenn Phillips opens the bat face and taps it to backward point.

Despite a six, that was a brilliant over by Arshdeep. Prince Yadav will wrap up the Powerplay.

Nicely bowled. Singh switches to bowling full and wide, and nails this one outside the off stump. Finn Allen reaches out to squeeze it away but fails to lay a bat on it.

Good cricket all-around. Back of a length and around off, Phillips jabs it down into the off side for a quick run. Arshdeep Singh attacks the ball well and scores a direct hit at the non-striker's end but Phillips is well in.

SIX! Swung away over the ropes, and the 50 is up for New Zealand. A tad fuller and at the stumps, Phillips goes back and across to the off side, whipping it right off the stumps and all the way for a six over deep backward square leg.

This time in front of square, but Phillips yet again finds the fielder. Hard length, in and around off, angling away. Phillips stays back and uses the wrists to punch it straight to cover.

Arshdeep pulls the length back a bit and slants it across the right-hander. Phillips rocs back and slaps it straight to the point fielder.

A slight fumble, but it doesn't cost an extra run. Good length on off, Allen hangs back and dabs it late, down to the left of short third and sets off for a single. Prince Yadav moves to his left and makes a half-stop.

Time for Axar to roll his arm over? Not yet. Arshdeep Singh (1-0-9-0) is back into the attack, replacing Mayank Yadav.

On the fuller side, attacking off and middle, Phillips blocks it off the front foot. 11 off the over.

Tap and run, excellent stuff from Allen. Prince hits a hard length now, bowling it around off. Allen taps it to the left of cover and hustles across for the run.

FOUR! Easy pickings. Just a fraction short again and a bit too straight. Allen swivels and swings it down to fine leg, where the fielder is standing much wider and the ball races away to the fence.

Good length, slanted into the pads, Phillips tucks it down to long leg for a single.

FOUR! Phillips made that look so easy. Banged in a touch short and around off, Phillips swivels back a bit and short-arm pulls it, flat and in front of mid-wicket for a boundary.

Good running. Back of a length and over middle, Allen covers the line and dabs it wide to the right of the bowler and pinches a quick single.

Prince Yadav comes into the attack as the first bowling change, replacing Arshdeep Singh.

Pitched a bit fuller and on off, Glenn Phillips leans on a bit and pushes it down to mid off. End of a breathtaking over - 20 runs and a wicket off it.

Superb fightback from Mayank and he has two to his name now. Mitchell, absolutely fuming with himself, trudges off. Now then, the man in-form for New Zealand, Glenn Phillips walks in at number 4 with John Cena's 'The Time Is Now' blaring around Eden Park.

OUT! LBW! Mayank Yadav has the last laugh here, or does he? Daryl Mitchell has reviewed it right away, which might suggest that there was an inside edge, otherwise, this looks plumb. Yadav brings out the straight yorker now, spearing it in at 143 kph and landing it right on the popping crease. Mitchell is caught deep in the crease and the ball just dips a bit, sneaking past the blade and crashing into the back foot. There is a huge appeal and up goes the finger, but it is sent upstairs. Nothing on UltraEdge and Ball Tracking shows three reds, which means that Mayank does have his man. Poor review from Mitchell, and he didn't even consult the non-striker, and New Zealand are now 34/2.

FOUR! That's been nailed! 20 off the first 4 balls in this over. Full-pitched delivery, bowled wide of the off stump as well. Mitchell hangs back again before lunging across and creaming it square through covers for yet another boundary. Mitchell is on a roll here.

FOUR! That's flown away to the fence as well. Full and wide now, Mitchell reaches out and gets a bit of bat on it, and the ball flies off the outside edge wide of the slip fielder and into the deep third fence.

SIX! Bigger and better this time. Good length on off, Daryl Mitchell camps deep in the crease and swings through the line, like teeing off on a golf course and nails it straight back down the ground for another biggie.

SIX! Flat-batted for six runs! Full and straight, Mitchell leans right back in the crease and pummels it over mid on and sends the ball sailing over the ropes.

Arshdeep continues to attack the bodyline, offering no sort of room to the batter. Back of a length, and this is dabbed down off the hips and into the open space at square leg for a single.

Not quite there to be pulled. Hard length over middle and leg, Mitchell leans back and looks to swing it over mid-wicket but gets a big inside edge onto the thigh pad.

Short again, a bit straighter now, and Mitchell shovels the pull away to the left of Mayank Yadav at fine leg for a couple of runs more.

Allen gets it high on the bat, and the ball plugs in the outfield as well. A skiddy short ball, over middle and leg. Allen is cramped for room but goes through with the pull and gets it over the mid-wicket region, picking up three runs.

Mitchell is off the mark right away. Good length, in and around the pads, nudged down through the backward square leg region for a run.

Length ball on middle and leg, clipped away towards mid-wicket for a single by Allen.

Wide! Wayward from Singh to begin with. Fullish length around leg, shaping further down the leg side.

Three consecutive single-digit scores for Seifert in this series now. Quite an eventful opening over and India are up and about. Daryl Mitchell is in at number 3. Arshdeep Singh will share the attack.

OUT! CAUGHT! The Yadavs combine to hand India their first breakthrough, and it's another low score for Tim Seifert. Mayank Yadav bangs this one in short and wide of the off stump, at 138 kph. Seifert has to leap up to reach it and can't quite control the shot. He ends up uppercutting it towards deep third, where Prince Yadav settles under the swirling ball and takes a fine catch. New Zealand are 5/1 after the first over.

Mayank hits the deck hard, bowling it around the top of off and middle. Seifert gets pegged back and has to defend it out.

Good length around off, played with gentle hands and out in the off side by Seifert.

The outfield will be a bit slow with the rain around. A high full toss over off and middle, Tim Seifert tries to back away and blast it through the off side, but slices it through covers for a couple of runs.

No ball! Good presence of mind from Prince Yadav in the deep, but he does spill the catch. However, given that Mayank has overstepped, it wouldn't have mattered. Full and wide outside off, Finn Allen throws his hands at it and gets a thick outside edge that goes quickly and flat to the left of deep third. It is a really short boundary over there and Prince is nearly taken aback by how quickly the ball gets to him, but does well to push it back in. Just a single, but a Free Hit to follow now.

Good start, hitting the bat hard. On a good length and around off. Finn Allen hangs back and dabs it down with an angled bat towards point.

A hint of swing straightaway for Mayank. Pitched full and on off, quick too and shaping away. Tim Seifert jams it out wide of extra cover and scampers through for a single, and New Zealand are underway.

With all the pre-match formalities done, it is time to get the penultimate match underway in the City of Sails. It is a chilly evening in Auckland, and Eden Park is packed to the rafters. The Indian team gets into a huddle as the two umpires walk out to the middle. Now, they disperse to take their fielding spots. As usual, it's Finn Allen along with Tim Seifert to open the innings for New Zealand. Mayank Yadav is ready to steam in with the new ball. Seifert is on strike. Deep third and deep fine leg are the two men outside the ring, with a slip in place in the form of Abhishek. The umpire says, 'Let's Play'. And it's GAME ON!

The flags flutter proudly in the wind as the match officials and both teams walk out for their national anthems. The Indian national anthem will play first, followed by New Zealand's.

India (Playing XI) - Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (WK), Ishan Kishan (In for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi), Shreyas Iyer (C), Tilak Varma, Naman Dhir, Axar Patel, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav, and Mayank Yadav (In for Bhuvneshwar Kumar).

New Zealand (Playing XI) - Tim Seifert (WK), Finn Allen, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Bevon Jacobs, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (C), Nathan Smith (In for Kyle Jamieson), Jacob Duffy, Adam Milne, and Matthew Fisher.

The skipper of New Zealand - Mitchell Santner says that they will have to turn things around, and it is a new day on a fresh pitch. He adds that traditionally, the pitch here offers early seam movement, but if you hang in there, you can really cash in. Santner further mentions that they could have been a bit better with the bat in the last game, and came up against some unreal hitting in the last game, and also feels that catching is going to be difficult given the wind. He then says that hopefully they can get a win here, and informs that they have made one change with Nathan Smith coming back in for Kyle Jamieson.

The captain of India - Shreyas Iyer notes that the wind has followed them everywhere and conditions are getting chillier. Iyer is pleased with the way his side went about things in the last game, praising the intent and positivity shown from ball one. He feels the key was adapting to the conditions, realising early that hard-length balls and half-volleys were disappearing into the stands. That, he says, pushed the bowlers to use the yorker as quickly as possible, and he believes the execution was phenomenal. On the changing dimensions of the grounds in New Zealand, Iyer acknowledges the challenge but stresses the team will not leave any stone unturned. With the series already won, he still feels the job is only half done and wants his players to stay ruthless and unruffled regardless of the occasion. Looking at the pitch, he expects a decent amount of grass to offer bounce and seam movement. On the changes in the XI, he informs that Ishan Kishan and Mayank Yadav come in for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

TOSS - Ravi Shastri is out there in the middle with the two captains. Shreyas Iyer calls correctly yet again, and India will BOWL first.

The ones to watch out for - For sure, Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi are the most exciting opening pair in T20Is at the moment, and the duo showcased their ballistic abilities in the last game, and Sharma even went on to get a super-quick century. India's death bowling has also been pretty good, but there might be a change or two as the visitors look to keep the winning run going. Stay tuned as the toss and team sheets will be up in a bit.

Hosts in need of an all-round showing - New Zealand have been pretty decent with the bat in all three games so far and have been forced to defend, as Shreyas Iyer has won the toss every time and elected to bowl first. The issue has been the bowling and also the fielding, which you generally wouldn't worry about if you're New Zealand. They need to find a way to get some standing ground in the Powerplay, otherwise, the Indian openers will take the game away from them yet again.

Welcome, folks - Hello, and a warm welcome to one and all. We are at Eden Park in Auckland for the 4th T20I between New Zealand and India. The visitors have already sealed the series 3-0 and will now have their sights on a clean sweep, whereas the Kiwis would love to finish off with a couple of wins. Expect the pack to be reshuffled and expect plenty of runs given what we have seen thus far. Should be a cracking contest.

... MATCH DAY ...

Eden Park gets its big night - The series may already be decided, but the fourth T20I has all the ingredients for a memorable night in Auckland. India arrive at Eden Park with an unassailable 3-0 lead after another emphatic chase in Wellington, while New Zealand are now playing to avoid a clean sweep. Yet despite the Blackcaps being out of contention for the series, the Auckland crowd has not lost interest, with almost 40,000 fans expected at a sold-out Eden Park. The match will also set a new New Zealand bilateral-series attendance record at the venue, underlining the anticipation around India's visit. New Zealand need a response - New Zealand have now had three different opportunities to put India under sustained pressure and have come away empty-handed each time. Their batting has generally given them something to defend, but the margin for error against India's top order has proved extremely small. Finn Allen remains capable of setting the tone in the Powerplay, while Daryl Mitchell has been one of their most dependable performers and Glenn Phillips continues to provide the explosive middle-order presence that can change a game within a few overs. Bevon Jacobs has also added another dimension to the batting group. His performances across the opening matches have suggested that New Zealand have another aggressive young option coming through, while Michael Bracewell gives them flexibility with both bat and ball. The challenge now is to make those individual contributions add up to a complete performance. A 198/3 was more than enough to create pressure in Wellington against most sides but against this India batting line-up, it disappeared almost immediately. Santner's control versus India's aggression - Mitchell Santner remains New Zealand's most important tactical weapon. His ability to slow the game down and force batters to take risks is particularly valuable against India's aggressive approach, and his three-over spell in Wellington (1/17) was the most economical of New Zealand's attack. He has consistently been the bowler capable of breaking India's rhythm, but the third T20I demonstrated just how difficult it is to contain the visitors once they get their match-ups right. The pace attack faces an even greater challenge at Eden Park with Matt Henry and Lockie Ferguson ruled out. Kyle Jamieson did manage to dismiss both Abhishek and Sanju Samson in Wellington, but he still conceded 45 from 3.2 overs, while Jacob Duffy, Adam Milne and Matt Fisher also struggled to keep India's scoring rate under control. With the short boundaries at Eden Park, New Zealand will need disciplined lengths rather than simply relying on pace, and their fielding will have to be sharper if they are to create the extra chances needed to stay in the contest. A chance to shuffle the pack - With the series already gone, New Zealand also have a decision to make over whether they stick with the combination that has taken them this far or use the remaining two matches to look at their wider squad. Devon Conway, Josh Clarkson, and Lockie Ferguson are among the options available, giving Santner and the team management scope to change the balance if they believe a different combination can challenge India. The key question is whether they want continuity after three competitive starts or a fresh tactical approach. Eden Park offers a very different challenge from Wellington, and New Zealand may feel this is the moment to use the venue's characteristics to their advantage rather than simply reproduce the plans that have already fallen short. The Men in Blue have found another gear - India's biggest strength has been their ability to win in completely different ways, but Wellington showed what happens when their top order gets everything right. Abhishek's extraordinary 113 came after scores of 29 and 27 in the opening two games, taking him to 169 runs in three innings on the tour. He has now added a fourth T20I hundred to his record, and his 38-ball assault in Wellington was the clearest indication yet of how destructive he can be when he gets through the first few overs. Alongside him, Sooryavanshi's emergence has been one of the most intriguing developments of the series. After being used at No.3 in Christchurch, the 15-year-old opened in Wellington and produced 45 from 19 balls, giving India a blistering start before Abhishek took over. Sanju Samson, Tilak Varma, Shreyas Iyer and Naman Dhir then provide further depth behind them, while Axar Patel and Nitish Kumar Reddy give the side additional batting options. That depth has allowed India to absorb pressure when required, but the third T20I showed that they do not always need to do so. If Abhishek and Sooryavanshi can again establish a platform, India have enough power behind them to turn even a competitive total into a very short chase. Who gets the opportunity? The series being settled also opens up India's selection picture. Ishan Kishan has missed the last two matches after suffering a low-grade right adductor strain in the opener and had not regained full match fitness before the Wellington game. The medical team has continued to monitor his recovery, while Kumar Kushagra has remained with the squad as cover. With India having already secured the series, there is little reason to rush Kishan back, particularly after Sooryavanshi's fireworks in the last game. There could instead be opportunities for some of the players who have not yet featured, including Kuldeep Yadav and Mayank Yadav, while India also have Shivam Dube in the squad. How much the management chooses to rotate will be one of the most interesting aspects of the Auckland game, especially with the fifth T20I following quickly in Hamilton. Bhuvneshwar Kumar's return also remains worth watching. The veteran seamer was brought back after nearly four years away from T20I cricket and has already had the chance to work in conditions where his new-ball movement can be useful. With India now in a position to experiment without jeopardising the series, the remaining matches could offer valuable opportunities to assess different combinations. A look at the venue - Auckland should offer a very different examination from the first three venues. Eden Park is traditionally a high-scoring T20 ground, with the unusual rectangular dimensions creating particularly short boundaries in some areas. The last 13 T20s at the venue have produced an average first-innings score of around 183, while nearly 70 percent of wickets in the available sample have gone to pace bowlers. Teams batting first have won 46 percent of those matches, making the toss less decisive than the dimensions might suggest. Team form (Last 5 completed T20Is, recent first) - NZ - LLLWL | IND - WWWLW. Can the Kiwis finally land the punch? New Zealand have shown enough across the series to suggest that a victory is within reach, but each time India have found another gear. The hosts now have Eden Park, a sell-out crowd and another chance to make their batting pressure count, while India can afford to experiment with the series already secured. The bigger question may therefore be whether New Zealand can finally put together the complete performance that has eluded them, a strong start with the bat, sustained pressure with the ball and enough discipline in the field to make India work for their runs. For India, another win would underline not just a 4-0 series lead but the depth and adaptability that have been at the heart of their campaign. After three losses, can the BlackCaps give their home crowd the result it has been waiting for, or will the Men in Blue continue their charge through Auckland?