Seifert finds form as Black Caps finish T20I series with back-to-back wins
The series finished with India 3-2 winners and New Zealand ruing two close defeats in the first two matches in Christchurch.
Black Caps opener Tim Seifert. Photo: Hannah Peters / Getty Images
At Seddon Park, Hamilton: India 191-8 (Ishan Kishan 61 off 32; Shreyas Iyer 50 off 23; Adam Milne 4-19 off 4) lost to the Black Caps 195-3 in 18 overs (Tim Seifert 93 off 50, Glenn Phillips 65 off 38) by seven wickets.
Tim Seifert found form but fell just short of making his first Twenty20 international century before Glenn Phillips made history as the Black Caps finished their series with India with another consolation win.
The opening batter had a life on 13 when Naman Dhir dropped him at deep third and made the most of it as he made 93 off 50 to lead his side’s chase of 192 at Seddon Park in Hamilton.
A new highest score – his previous best was an unbeaten 97 – and a first-ever ton were well within his reach, but he chopped on off Nitish Kumar Reddy in the 16th over.
The equation was well in the Black Caps’ favour at that point – 24 off 27 – and they cantered home with two overs to spare as Phillips made an unbeaten 65 off 38 – his fourth score over 50 in the series.
He finished with a total of 341 runs – the most by any batter in a bilateral T20I series of any length, beating Englishman Phil Salt’s record of 331 and Mark Chapman’s New Zealand record of 326.
Mitchell Santner won the toss for the first time in the series and chose to bowl, with Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer both making half-centuries as India posted 191-8 from their 20 overs.
The visitors won the first three matches in the series in Christchurch and Wellington before the Black Caps got on the board at Eden Park in Auckland on Friday.
The two teams will now play a five-match one-day international series, starting back at Eden Park on Wednesday, then continuing at Hnry Stadium in Wellington on Saturday, which is also election day.
