Daijiworld Media Network - Mount Maunganui

Mount Maunganui, Nov 13: Matt Henry produced a devastating opening spell, claiming three wickets in a maiden first over, before finishing with career-best figures of 6-27 as New Zealand crushed India by 244 runs in the fourth ODI at the Bay Oval on Friday.

Chasing a target of 334, India were bowled out for a paltry 89 in 26.4 overs, suffering their second-heaviest defeat in ODI cricket. The victory reduced India's lead in the series to 2-1, setting up a series decider at the same venue on Sunday.

It was a Friday the 13th to forget for the Indian batting line-up, with only Ishan Kishan, Axar Patel and Naman Dhir managing to reach double figures.

Earlier, Will Young struck a magnificent 125 off 108 balls after surviving two early chances, while Tim Seifert smashed a blistering 58 off 48 deliveries to guide New Zealand to 333 in their allotted 50 overs. Asked to bat first by Indian stand-in skipper Shreyas Iyer, the hosts comfortably surpassed the venue's average first-innings total despite losing four wickets in the final 10 overs.

Young's fifth ODI century, and his first against India, featured 14 boundaries and four sixes. Seifert's innings included six fours and three sixes.

For India, Axar Patel, Gurnoor Brar and Auqib Nabi picked up two wickets each, while Arshdeep Singh and Naman Dhir claimed one apiece. Kuldeep Yadav, playing his first match of the tour, went wicketless, conceding 73 runs in eight overs.

Young opened New Zealand's account with a beautifully timed boundary off the final delivery of Arshdeep's first over. Seifert soon took charge, driving Auqib Nabi for four before launching the free-hit following a no-ball over the ropes for a six.

India's fielding woes surfaced in the same over when Rohit Sharma dropped a straightforward catch at slip off Young. Ishan Kishan then failed to hold another outside edge off the very next delivery, leaving Nabi visibly disappointed.

Seifert continued his aggressive approach, lofting Gurnoor Brar for a six over long-on in the pacer's opening over. He also exchanged words with Brar before taking 15 runs off a Nabi over.

Seifert brought up his maiden ODI half-century off just 42 balls in the 10th over, becoming the first New Zealand batter to score a half-century inside the opening 10 overs of an ODI against India. New Zealand finished the powerplay at 72 without loss.

However, Brar struck back in the 12th over when Seifert top-edged a short delivery. Kishan ran to his left and completed an excellent diving catch. Brar's animated send-off prompted Virat Kohli to pull him away from the dismissed batter, while umpire Chris Brown later spoke to the pacer.

After the 85-run opening partnership, India managed to trigger a brief collapse. Axar Patel had Nick Kelly stumped for four, while Nabi dismissed Dean Foxcroft for eight with a well-directed bouncer that resulted in a top-edge caught at fine leg.

Young, who reached his half-century in the 20th over, found an attacking partner in Finn Allen. The duo added 90 runs for the fourth wicket, including 19 runs off Kuldeep's 26th over, which featured a free-hit six.

Axar eventually broke the partnership when Rohit Sharma dived to his right at short cover to dismiss Allen for 41.

Young continued to dominate and completed his century off 88 deliveries in the 32nd over. It was his first ODI hundred since scoring 107 against Pakistan in the 2025 Champions Trophy.

He later survived a blow to his helmet grille while attempting a reverse sweep, while India also lost a review against him.

Young's impressive innings finally ended when substitute fielder Kumar Kushagra held on to a catch at the second attempt after the batter attempted a slog-sweep against part-time off-spinner Naman Dhir.

Dhir then took a sharp catch running in from deep backward square leg to dismiss Michael Bracewell for 15, leaving New Zealand at 258/6.

Mitchell Santner, who had earlier been dropped by Rohit off Dhir's bowling, struck two sixes against the off-spinner before Arshdeep had him caught behind for 24.

Kristian Clarke scored 22, while Kyle Jamieson remained unbeaten on 19 as New Zealand continued to add valuable runs. Nabi dismissed Clarke leg-before-wicket, before the innings ended with two run-outs off the final two deliveries. Nabi hit the stumps directly to dismiss Matt Henry, while Kohli combined with Kishan to run out Matthew Fisher.

India's chase, however, was virtually over before it could get underway.

Rohit Sharma edged the first delivery of the innings to Finn Allen at first slip after being squared up. Four balls later, Kohli, caught late by the inward movement, saw his stumps shattered.

Stand-in captain Shreyas Iyer, becoming the 29th player to lead India in ODIs, lasted just one delivery before being trapped leg-before by a sharp incoming delivery. New Zealand successfully overturned the on-field not-out decision.

It was only the second occasion that Rohit and Kohli had registered ducks in the same ODI.

Kyle Jamieson then had Ruturaj Gaikwad caught at second slip for five, leaving India reeling at 9/4. The score matched India's position at the same stage against Zimbabwe at Tunbridge Wells during the 1983 World Cup. On that occasion, Kapil Dev produced his legendary unbeaten 175 to rescue India, but there was no such recovery at Mount Maunganui.

Axar Patel survived a dropped catch on the very next delivery when Nick Kelly put down a straightforward chance at backward point. Axar and Kishan attempted to rebuild the innings, adding 44 runs off 70 balls for the fifth wicket.

Their resistance ended when Matthew Fisher had Axar caught at slip by Allen for 21.

Henry returned for his second spell and struck immediately, bowling Kishan for a fighting 27 with his first delivery. Fisher followed up with a fierce bouncer clocked at more than 143 kmph to have Auqib Nabi caught behind for five.

Henry completed his five-wicket haul, his fourth in ODIs and second against India, when he bowled Kuldeep Yadav for one.

Naman Dhir provided some brief entertainment by smashing Fisher for two sixes, including a powerful pull shot, before being caught at extra cover for 21.

Henry fittingly brought the Indian innings to an end by bowling Gurnoor Brar for two with a full delivery that sneaked underneath his bat, completing his career-best ODI figures of 6-27.

Fisher finished with 3-31, while Jamieson was economical, conceding just 12 runs in his six overs and claiming one wicket.

Henry, who returned to ODI cricket after an absence of a year, delivered a commanding performance and gave India a stern warning ahead of the Test series beginning on November 19.

Brief scores: New Zealand 333 in 50 overs (Will Young 125, Tim Seifert 58; Axar Patel 2-39, Auqib Nabi 2-59) beat India 89 all out in 26.4 overs (Ishan Kishan 27, Naman Dhir 21; Matt Henry 6-27, Matthew Fisher 3-31) by 244 runs.