New Zealand bowler Matt Henry produced a devastating opening spell to lead his team to a 244-run victory over India at Bay Oval.
The seamer reduced the tourists to 0/3 in just three deliveries, effectively sealing the contest before the visitors could establish any momentum.
According to “Matt Henry’s three-ball demolition”, the performance marked India’s second-biggest defeat by runs in the format.
Henry first dismissed Rohit Sharma, then trapped Virat Kohli lbw, and finally removed Shreyas Iyer for a golden duck.
Iyer became the first Indian skipper to suffer a golden duck on his debut, per the report.
India collapsed for a total of 89 runs as the bowling attack exploited significant seam movement and bounce.
Kyle Jamieson and Matt Fisher provided additional pressure, ensuring the Indian batting lineup remained under constant duress.
The loss has raised concerns regarding India’s technical vulnerabilities ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa.
Questions regarding team selection also emerged, specifically the decision to leave out Mohammed Siraj on a pitch suited for seamers.
New Zealand had earlier posted a total of 333, largely fueled by Will Young’s career-best 125 off 108 balls.
Young was dropped twice early in his innings, allowing him to anchor the New Zealand total alongside Tim Seifert.
Despite a brief resistance from Ishan Kishan and Axar Patel, the Indian middle order failed to recover from the initial top-order collapse.
Henry returned later in the innings to clean up the tail, finishing with his career-best ODI figures.
The result leaves the series tied, though New Zealand will be without Henry and Jamieson for the final match due to upcoming Test commitments.
The intensity of the defeat served as a reminder of past struggles, echoing a 2019 World Cup semifinal loss at Old Trafford.
As noted in the source material, the failure to handle lateral movement remains a primary concern for the Indian management team.
Both sides now prepare for the final ODI scheduled for Sunday.