New Zealand’s Mitchell Santner (AP)
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner etched his name in the record books during the fourth T20I against India in Auckland on Friday, becoming the leading wicket-taker against India in the shortest format.
Santner’s latest scalp also marked another milestone in his T20I career as he became only the third New Zealand player to reach 150 wickets in the format. He now has 151 wickets from 142 matches at an average of 23.09, including four four-wicket hauls and best figures of 4/11. Santner returned figures of 2/24 in the fourth T20I, also dismissing Axar Patel, as New Zealand registered their first victory of the five-match series with an emphatic 87-run win. His nine wickets in the ongoing series have come at an average of 11.22. Glenn Phillips ‘ blistering 107 off 49 balls and Michael Bracewell ‘s 65 off 25 powered New Zealand to 259/7, the highest T20I total against India. Jacob Duffy then claimed four wickets as India were restricted to 172/9, leaving the visitors with a 3-1 series lead ahead of the final match.