New Zealand fast bowler Matt Henry tore through India’s top order with a first-over triple-wicket maiden, setting up a crushing 244-run victory in the fourth one-day international at Mount Maunganui. Set a target of 334 to seal an unassailable series lead, India collapsed to 89 all out in just 26.4 overs.
Sensational Opening Spell
India’s chase began in disastrous fashion as Henry struck with the very first delivery of the innings, finding the edge of Rohit Sharma’s bat to send a catch to Finn Allen at slip. Virat Kohli survived three deliveries before being bowled by a low delivery that nipped back on the fifth ball. Henry completed his remarkable opening over by trapping India skipper Shreyas Iyer leg before wicket for another duck, leaving the visitors reeling at 0-3.
Ishan Kishan survived the first ball of Henry’s second over despite taking a blow to the thigh pad, going on to top-score for India with 27 before Henry dragged an inside edge onto his leg stump in the 21st over. The 34-year-old seam bowler later bowled tailenders Kuldeep Yadav and Gurnoor Brar to finish with career-best ODI figures of 6-27.
The dismissal for 89 marked India’s sixth-lowest team total in ODI history. The margin of defeat was also their second-heaviest by runs in the format, trailing only a 245-run loss to Sri Lanka in Sharjah in October 2000.
Reflecting on his opening spell, Henry explained how he adjusted to the conditions. “With the way the wind was going, I wasn’t too worried about the swing. From ball one it was just about trying to bring the stumps in play, really,” he said. “We knew that there was a small window there with the new ball that you could put the batters under pressure, so it’s just trying to be as simple as possible. When it moves sharply like that in the first over, when people are facing first balls, it’s pretty tough.”
Young Century Sets Winning Total
Earlier in the day, Will Young anchored New Zealand’s total of 333 all out, scoring 125 off 108 deliveries. Young was granted two early reprieves when he was dropped on five twice in successive balls off the bowling of Auqib Nabi, first by Rohit at slip and then by wicketkeeper Kishan.
The victory keeps the five-match series alive, with India maintaining a 2-1 lead following victories in Auckland and Wellington before the third fixture in Hamilton was washed out. New Zealand, who lost the preceding Twenty20 international series 3-2, will aim to level the ODI series in the final match at Mount Maunganui on Sunday ahead of a two-Test series beginning in Wellington on November 19 and Christchurch on November 27.
