India all-rounder Axar Patel provided an important breakthrough during the fourth ODI against New Zealand at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui on Friday, November 13. The left-arm spinner dismissed batter Nick Kelly with a smart piece of bowling, followed by a sharp stumping from wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan. The dismissal occurred on the second delivery of the 15th over.
Axar tossed the ball outside off stump, tempting Kelly to step down the track. However, the New Zealand batter failed to make contact as the ball beat his outside edge. Kishan reacted quickly behind the stumps and completed the stumping to give India their second wicket. Kelly struggled to make an impact at No. 3, scoring just four runs from eight deliveries. His departure left New Zealand at 96/2 after 14.2 overs.
India captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and elected to bowl, with the visitors making three changes to their playing XI. New Zealand made six alterations to their combination.
WATCH – Gurnoor Brar Gives Tim Seifert Fiery Send-Off As Virat Kohli Steps In During 4th ODI
The hosts started aggressively, although Will Young received two early lifelines after Rohit Sharma and Kishan dropped catches off consecutive deliveries from Auqib Nabi in the second over.
Axar Patel outsmarts Nick Kelly with a beauty! 👌
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At the other end, Tim Seifert took the attack to the Indian bowlers and reached his maiden ODI half-century off just 39 deliveries. New Zealand finished the Powerplay at 72/0, with the opening partnership producing 85 runs from 72 balls.
WATCH – Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan Drop Two Catches To Give Will Young Two Lives
India eventually broke through when Gurnoor Brar dismissed Seifert for 58 off 48 deliveries, including six fours and three sixes. The breakthrough ended a dangerous opening partnership and gave the visitors an opportunity to regain control. Following Seifert’s departure and Kelly’s dismissal, New Zealand were 124/2 after 19 overs. Young was batting on 49 off 47, while Dean Foxcroft had scored eight off 12.
