New Zealand produced their most complete performance of India's tour to keep the ODI series alive, thrashing the visitors by 244 runs in the fourth ODI at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui, on Friday, 13 November. Will Young's career-best 125 set up 333, and then Matt Henry destroyed India's chase in a single over, removing Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer for ducks before India were bowled out for 89.

It is India's second-biggest defeat in ODI cricket by runs, and New Zealand's second-biggest ODI win. India still lead the five-match series 2-1, but the finale on Sunday is now a live contest — and New Zealand's six-year unbeaten run in home ODI series, 11 wins from 11 since the start of 2020, is still intact.

Young's career-best sets it up

Stand-in captain Shreyas Iyer, leading India for the first time in ODIs in Shubman Gill's absence, won the toss and chose to bowl. It proved to be a good toss for New Zealand to lose. On the best batting pitch of the series, the Black Caps raced to 72-0 from the powerplay.

Tim Seifert, opening in place of the rested players, took just 39 balls to reach his maiden ODI half-century, making 58 off 48 balls in an 85-run opening stand. Young, who had managed only 15 runs in the first two matches of the series, was dropped twice in two balls with his score on five — and made India pay in full.

He reached 50 in 49 balls, then his second 50 in just 39, bringing up his hundred off 88 deliveries. A six over long-off equalled his highest ODI score, and a sweep to fine leg — both off Kuldeep Yadav — took him to a new personal best. He finished with 125 off 108 balls, his fifth ODI century, with 14 fours and four sixes.

Finn Allen, batting at No. 5 in an experiment by the New Zealand coaches, smashed 41 off 30 balls in a 90-run stand with Young. From 256-4 in the 37th over, the middle and lower order could not quite capitalise, but cameos from Mitchell Santner (24), Kristian Clarke (22) and Kyle Jamieson (19 not out) lifted New Zealand to 333 all out in 50 overs. The last two wickets fell to run-outs in the final over.

Axar Patel was India's best bowler with 2-39, and Gurnoor Brar took 2-69. Kuldeep Yadav had a day to forget, conceding 73 runs in eight wicketless overs.

Henry's first over: three ducks

Henry was making his only appearance of the series before leaving for Test duties, and he made it count from the very first ball. Rohit Sharma edged through to Finn Allen at slip. Then Kohli, playing his first ball of the over after four deliveries, was bowled for a four-ball duck by a ball that nipped back. And when Iyer was trapped lbw first ball, India had completed the first over at 0-3.

It was the first time in India's ODI history that they had lost three wickets without a run on the board. Ishan Kishan survived Henry's hat-trick ball, but there was no recovery. Kyle Jamieson had Ruturaj Gaikwad caught at second slip for 5, and India ended the powerplay at 26-4.

India fold for 89

Kishan top-scored with 27 before Henry bowled him at 61-6, and Axar Patel made 21 before edging Matt Fisher to slip. Naman Dhir went down swinging, clubbing two sixes in his 21, before Fisher had him caught at mid-off. Henry completed his five-wicket haul by bowling Kuldeep Yadav, and finished the job by bowling Gurnoor Brar for 2 to end the innings at 89 in 26.4 overs.

Henry finished with 6-27 in 9.4 overs, including two maidens — a career best, and his fourth five-wicket haul in ODIs. Fisher took 3-31. India's 89 is their sixth-lowest all-out total in ODI cricket, and only just bettered their lowest total against New Zealand, 88 at Dambulla in 2010.

The records

The 244-run margin is India's second-heaviest ODI defeat by runs, and New Zealand's second-biggest ODI win. For a New Zealand side that had lost the first two matches of the series and seen the third washed out in Hamilton, it was the perfect response — and it keeps alive a home ODI series unbeaten run that stretches back to the start of 2020.

What happens next

The fifth and final ODI is at Bay Oval on Sunday, 15 November. A New Zealand win would draw the series 2-2; an India win would seal it 3-1. New Zealand will have to do it without Henry, who leaves to join the Test squad in Wellington before the first Test at the Basin Reserve, starting 19 November. The second Test is at Hagley Oval, Christchurch, from 27 November.

FAQs

What happened in the first over of India's chase?

Matt Henry bowled a triple-wicket maiden. Rohit Sharma edged to slip off the first ball, Virat Kohli was bowled for a four-ball duck, and Shreyas Iyer was lbw first ball. India were 0-3 after one over — the first time in their ODI history they had lost three wickets without scoring a run.

How many runs did Will Young score?

Will Young made a career-best 125 off 108 balls, his fifth ODI century, with 14 fours and four sixes. He had scored only 15 runs in the first two matches of the series.

What were Matt Henry's figures?

Henry took 6-27 in 9.4 overs, including two maidens — a career best and his fourth five-wicket haul in ODIs. His six victims were Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan, Kuldeep Yadav and Gurnoor Brar.

Is this India's biggest ODI defeat?

No. The 244-run defeat is India's second-biggest in ODIs by runs. Their total of 89 is their sixth-lowest all-out score in ODI cricket.

When is the fifth ODI?

The fifth and final ODI is at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui, on Sunday, 15 November 2026. India lead the series 2-1.

Conclusion

For three matches, this series had belonged to India. In one extraordinary day at Bay Oval, New Zealand took it back — first with the bat, through a batsman who had barely scored a run all series, and then with the ball, through a bowler playing his only match of the series. Sunday's finale is now a decider in all but name, and India will need to find answers fast.

Also on CricVic: Brett Randell Earns Maiden New Zealand Call-Up as Black Caps Add Duo for Final India ODIs and Rain Washes Out Hamilton ODI as India Seal Series Against New Zealand

Sources: NZ Herald — Henry six-for, Young century see Black Caps to huge ODI win over India, Times Now — India vs New Zealand 4th ODI live score, Cricbuzz — New Zealand vs India, 4th ODI scorecard