New Zealand lead India 3-1 ahead of final T20I

New Zealand head into the fifth and final T20I against India with a 3-1 series lead after beating the visitors by 87 runs in Auckland. The match is scheduled for Seddon Park in Hamilton, with the date differing between preview accounts: one gives Saturday, October 31, and another Sunday, November 1. The supplied reporting does not establish which date is correct. The Auckland result put New Zealand in control of the five-match series. After batting first, New Zealand posted 259 for seven, according to one match preview, while India were dismissed for 172 for nine. The report described the New Zealand total as the team’s highest T20I score on home soil. Glenn Phillips made 107 from 49 balls and Michael Bracewell scored 65 from 25, combining in a 115-run partnership. India’s reply began with Jacob Duffy taking two wickets in the opening over, removing Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan. Tilak Varma top-scored for India with 35, while Abhishek Sharma made 27 and captain Shreyas Iyer scored 22. Duffy finished with four wickets for 23 runs. India’s selection for the finale has drawn attention after Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was left out of the fourth match. Former India wicketkeeper-batter...