Matt Henry produced a scintillating opening over to remove Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer all without scoring as New Zealand thrashed a ragged India by 244 runs in the fourth ODI at Mount Maunganui on Friday.
The fast bowler took a career-best 6-27 and Will Young struck a century as the hosts pulled the series back to 2-1 down with a game to play this Sunday.
Henry tore India's much-vaunted top order apart with the visitors, needing a massive 334 for victory, rolled for just 89.
New Zealand made 333 all out in the last over after being asked to bat, Young punishing two simple drops by Indian fielders to bring up his fifth ODI hundred.
India never stood a chance of chasing the total after Henry's heavenly opening over.
Rohit edged his first ball to slip, Kohli was bowled facing his fourth ball, and then Iyer was pegged on his back leg to fall lbw.
India's rebuild never happened, Ishan Kishan top-scoring with just 27.
"It's quite funny isn't it, the wind was quite strong so it was about keeping things simple," Henry said of his incredible spell.
"A bit of luck as well. It was about trying to hit the strings, be as simple as possible, and when it moves sharply like that in the first over it's pretty tough."
Henry was returning to the Black Caps after a head clash with Devon Conway in training last week which concussed the batter and kept Henry out of the first three games.
"It wasn't ideal," Henry said of the head clash, "But thankfully we're doing alright now."
New Zealand's imposing total came off the back of Young's 125 from 108 balls, including 14 fours and four sixes.
Young and Tim Seifert combined for an 85-run opening partnership.
While Young rode his early luck — dropped twice in two balls when on five in the second over, first by slip Rohit and then by wicketkeeper Kishan — Seifert played the aggressor with a brisk 39-ball 50.
When Seifert fell for 58, Nick Kelly and Dean Foxcroft soon followed playing reckless shots.
Young found better support in Finn Allen, the pair putting on 90 runs in just 65 balls as they seized on wayward Indian bowling.
Young's first 50 came from 49 balls, and his second from just 39 balls as he hit regular boundaries through the middle overs.
Allen made 41 from 30 deliveries, including five fours and two sixes.
"We tried almost everything," India captain Iyer said of the bowling performance.
"We thought the wicket was pretty tough to bat on. A couple of dropped catches, but that happens."
Axar Patel took 2-39 from 10 overs as India pulled the innings back late, while Auqib Nabi had 2-59 and Gurnoor Brar 2-69.
Source link