Glenn Phillips smashed a brilliant 49-ball 107 — his third T20 international century — to power New Zealand to a commanding 259 for 7 against India in the fourth T20I of the series at Eden Park, Auckland, on 30 October 2026. Fellow all-rounder Michael Bracewell called the knock a 'privilege to watch', adding that the pair 'bounced off each other really nicely' during a destructive 115-run fifth-wicket stand.

Phillips Lights Up Eden Park

Phillips arrived at the crease with the innings still to be anchored and proceeded to dismantle the Indian attack at a sold-out Eden Park. His 107 off 49 balls is his third T20I century, cementing his status as one of the most destructive middle-order hitters in the current format. The New Zealand batting all-rounder has now registered three T20I hundreds — a rare feat in a format where even a single century is a career landmark for most batters.

Bracewell Complements With Career-Best 65

Michael Bracewell contributed a career-best 65 off just 25 deliveries, forming the backbone of a partnership that shifted the momentum decisively in New Zealand's favour. 'It was great to be out there with GP, playing with him in front of this amazing crowd. It's pretty cool to play in a sold-out Eden Park. And, to be able to contribute to the total is pretty exciting,' Bracewell said after the first innings. He noted that getting early boundaries set the tone: 'When you can get that momentum early in your innings, then you're sort of putting the game to them, and that's the way that I like to play my cricket.'

The Challenge India Face

The target of 260 looms large, particularly given the context of this series. India had chased down their own highest-ever T20I total of 226 in the series opener, demonstrating the batting firepower in Rohit Sharma's side. This is the fourth match of the series, making it a high-stakes encounter with the series balance on the line. Bracewell acknowledged the challenge of defending such a total against India but expressed confidence: 'We've learned a lot from the lessons that we took from the last game. So yeah, hopefully we can implement those and have a better night with the ball tonight.'

New Zealand's Bowling Plans

Bracewell, who contributes with the ball as well, said he was relishing the prospect of bowling to India's top order. 'It's always a great opportunity to come up against the best players in the world. I think when you test yourself against them, then you really see where you're at. So yeah, I'm excited to get the ball in hand and see what we can do,' he said. The Kiwis will need a disciplined bowling display to hold off an Indian side that has shown it can overhaul massive totals in this very series.

Series Context

The New Zealand versus India T20I series has already produced extraordinary run-scoring, with both sides testing the limits of what is chaseable in modern T20 cricket. A score of 259 for 7 at Eden Park — a ground renowned for its short square boundaries — will test India's vaunted batting lineup to the absolute maximum. The outcome of this fourth match could have significant implications for the series result.