New Zealand fast bowler Matt Henry produced one of the most devastating opening overs in recent cricket history, dismissing Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer without a single run between them as India suffered a humiliating 244-run defeat in the fourth ODI at Mount Maunganui on Friday.
The carnage unfolded in brutal fashion. Rohit edged his very first delivery to slip. Kohli, facing just his fourth ball, was clean bowled. Then Iyer fell leg-before-wicket, trapped on his back foot. Three of India’s biggest names gone in a matter of minutes, all registering golden ducks.
Henry finished with career-best figures of 6-27 as India, chasing a daunting 334, collapsed spectacularly to just 89 all out. The defeat pulls New Zealand back into the series at 2-1 down with one match remaining on Sunday.
The fast bowler, who had missed the first three matches after a training ground head clash with Devon Conway that left the batter concussed, showed no signs of rust. Speaking after his match-winning performance, Henry downplayed the heroics with characteristic Kiwi modesty, crediting strong winds and simple execution.
“It’s quite funny isn’t it, the wind was quite strong so it was about keeping things simple,” Henry said. “A bit of luck as well. When it moves sharply like that in the first over it’s pretty tough.”
India’s batting never recovered from the opening blow. Ishan Kishan top-scored with a meager 27 as wickets tumbled regularly. The visitors looked shell-shocked, unable to mount any meaningful resistance against Henry’s relentless accuracy and movement.
Earlier, New Zealand posted an imposing 333 all out, built on the back of Will Young’s magnificent 125 off 108 balls. Young benefited from extraordinary fortune early on, dropped twice in consecutive deliveries when he had scored just five runs. Rohit Sharma at slip and wicketkeeper Kishan both put down simple chances in the second over.
Young made India pay dearly for those lapses, smashing 14 fours and four sixes in a commanding display. He combined with Tim Seifert for an 85-run opening stand before finding an even more explosive partner in Finn Allen, who blasted 41 from just 30 balls.
Seifert played the aggressor early, racing to a 39-ball half-century before falling for 58. Young accelerated brilliantly through the middle overs, bringing up his first fifty from 49 balls and his second from just 39 deliveries.
India’s bowling looked wayward and lacking in discipline. Captain Shreyas Iyer admitted his side tried multiple options but couldn’t contain the New Zealand batsmen on what he described as a difficult pitch. Axar Patel was the pick of the bowlers with 2-39 from 10 overs.
The crushing defeat raises serious questions about India’s batting fragility and their ability to handle high-pressure situations. With the series still alive heading into Sunday’s final match, India will need to regroup quickly to avoid further embarrassment.
For New Zealand, Henry’s return couldn’t have been more timely or spectacular, keeping their series hopes alive with one of the great individual bowling performances.
