New Zealand vs India: Black Caps crush India by 244 runs in Mt Maunganui ODI

New Zealand beat India by 244 runs in the fourth one-day international of their five-match series at Bay Oval in Mt Maunganui, keeping their hopes of a series draw alive. India lead the series 2-0, and the final match is scheduled for Sunday. The New Zealand innings was built around a career-best 125 from opener Will Young, while fast bowler Matt Henry returned figures of 6-27.

Young and the top order power a big total

After India's stand-in captain Shreyas Iyer chose to bowl first, New Zealand posted 333 for the loss of runs across their innings. Young, who had managed only 15 runs in the first two matches, hit his fifth ODI century and what several reports described as his best. He had support from Tim Seifert, who made 58 off 48 balls, and Finn Allen, who scored 41 off 30. Seifert and Allen added 85 and 90 with Young respectively, with the openers taking 72 runs from the powerplay.

Young reached 50 from 49 deliveries and was dropped twice early on, once on five. He later passed his previous highest ODI score, and his 125 is a new personal best. Allen batted at No 5 in a new role and hit five boundaries and two sixes before he was caught at short cover off Axar Patel. The middle and lower order added less, with Mitchell Santner (24), Kristian Clarke (22) and Kyle Jamieson (19 not out) helping the total reach 333.

Henry's spell routs India

India were bowled out for 89 in reply, a collapse that began at the top of the order. Henry dismissed Rohit Sharma early, bowled Virat Kohli for a four-ball duck, and trapped Iyer lbw off the first ball of the innings. India were 26 for 4 at the end of the powerplay. Ishan Kishan made 27 before being bowled, and Axar Patel made 21 before he was caught at slip off Matt Fisher, who finished with 3-31.

Henry returned to complete his fourth ODI five-wicket haul, and his 6-27 is a career-best return. Gurnoor Brar (2-69) and Axar Patel (2-39) were the other wicket-takers for India, while Naman Dhir made 21 with two sixes. Commentary reports described the result as India's second-biggest defeat in ODI history.

What happens next

New Zealand's win means India cannot clinch the series in the fourth match, and New Zealand can still draw the series with a win in Sunday's final match. Henry will not play that match, as he is due to join the Test squad in Wellington ahead of the opening Test at the Basin Reserve next week. New Zealand have won 11 of 11 home ODI series matches since the start of 2020, a run they were trying to protect before this result.

The result leaves the series open, with the final ODI on Sunday to decide whether New Zealand can square it.