Openers flourish to redeem NZ in T20

New Zealand have thumped India by 50 runs in the fourth Twenty20 International to earn their first win of the five-match ‍series in Visakhapatnam.

Put in to bat, New Zealand struggled to build on the ​century opening stand between Tim Seifert (62) and Devon Conway (44) on Wednesday but still posted a commanding 7-215.

The ⁠tourists then returned to bowl out India for 165 in 18.4 overs despite Shivam Dube's belligerent 65 off 23 balls that included seven sixes.

India lead the series 3-1 ahead of Saturday's final match in Thiruvananthapuram.

Earlier, New Zealand got off to a blazing start with ‌Seifert and ​Conway combining in an opening stand of 100 to lay the foundation ‍for a big total.

Spinner Kuldeep Yadav dismissed Conway in the ninth over to break the century stand as India clawed their way back into the contest with a flurry of wickets.

Jasprit Bumrah took a return catch to send back Rachin Ravindra in the next over and ​Arshdeep Singh ended Seifert's 36-ball blitz, which ‌contained three sixes.

Kuldeep also claimed the wicket of Glenn Phillips (24) but Daryl Mitchell smashed 39no from ​18 balls as New Zealand managed to make hay in the death overs to ‍power past the 200-mark.

Having taken an unassailable 3-0 lead, India rested top-order batter Ishan Kishan, who sustained a niggle in their victory in Guwahati, and their ​rejigged ​batting order was immediately under pressure.

Their ​in-form opener Abhishek Sharma, currently the top-ranked ​T20 batter, fell for a first-ball duck to Matt Henry while skipper Suryakumar Yadav (eight) did not last long either.

A promoted Rinku Singh made 39, but wickets kept tumbling with New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner claiming 3-26.

Dube kept India in the hunt but his run-out, when Harshit Rana's drive was deflected onto the stumps at the non-striker's end by bowler Henry in ‍his follow-through, effectively sealed India's fate.