NZ Win Fifth T20 vs India, but Lose Series 2-3

New Zealand beat India by seven wickets in the fifth T20 International at Seddon Park, Hamilton, but the win was not enough to save the series. The hosts lost the five-match contest 2-3, despite a strong finish to the rubber.

The match belonged largely to Glenn Phillips and Tim Seifert. Phillips finished unbeaten on 65 off 38 balls, while Seifert smashed 93 off 50 balls, forming a third-wicket partnership of 86 runs that broke India's hopes.

Phillips also ended the series as the leading run-scorer in a bilateral T20 format, with 341 runs. That tally surpassed England's Phil Salt, who had made 331 runs against West Indies in 2023.

Batting first, India posted 191 for eight in 20 overs. Ishan Kishan scored 61 off 32 balls, and Shreyas Iyer added 50 off 23. Naman Dhir made 33 off 23 deliveries, and Nitish Kumar Reddy contributed 22 off 17.

New Zealand's bowling was anchored by Adam Milne, whose spell of four overs cost only 19 runs while he captured four wickets. Nathan Smith and Blair Tickner picked up two wickets apiece.

Daryl Mitchell provided quick support with 29 runs off 16 balls. The successful chase is New Zealand's third-highest in T20 internationals, though the result did not change the overall series outcome in India's favour.