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Live sport on SN this weekendIndia batters smash Blackcaps in final T20 ahead of World Cup
Reuters • February 1st, 2026 7:47 am
Photo: BCCI
Ishan Kishan has smashed a 42-ball hundred as India showcased their batting firepower ahead of next month's Twenty20 World Cup, beating the Blackcaps by 46 runs in Thiruvananthapuram to seal a 4-1 series win.
Kishan clobbered 10 sixes in an incendiary 103 off 43 balls to anchor India's imposing 271/5 at the Greenfield International Stadium on Saturday.
New Zealand opener Finn Allen did his best in response, hammering six sixes in a 38-ball 80 but the Blackcaps were eventually bowled out for 225 with two balls left in the innings after India seamer Arshdeep Singh took a career-best 5-for-51.
Finn Allen's sixth T20I half-century (22 balls) was the fastest by any New Zealander against India | Photo: BCCI
Earlier, Kishan, who missed the previous game in Visakhapatnam with an injury niggle, returned at number three and tore into the attack from the outset.
Ish Sodhi bore the brunt in the 12th over, when Kishan lashed four fours and two sixes in a seven-ball over that cost 29 runs.
After playing second fiddle to Kishan for much of their rapid 137-run stand off 58 balls, India captain Suryakumar Yadav (63) then exhibited his own power-hitting prowess by smashing three sixes off a Jacob Duffy over.
Kishan brought up his 100 with a six before Duffy deceived him with a slow bouncer and Hardik Pandya smacked four sixes in his 42 off 17 balls down the order.
New Zealand lost opener Tim Seifert cheaply but Allen and Rachin Ravindra (30) kept them in the hunt with a century stand before their chase was derailed.
After spinner Axar Patel (3/33) removed Allen and Glenn Phillips, seamer Arshdeep demolished the Blackcaps' middle order to claim his maiden five-wicket haul in T20 Internationals.
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