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NEW DELHI: Shivam Dube flickered brightly with a fifty of rare quality but it was not enough to stop India from slipping to a 50-run defeat against New Zealand in the fourth T20I on Wednesday.

The clean-hitting Dube smashed 65 off 23 balls with three fours and seven sixes and almost fought a lonely battle in India’s daunting chase of 216. The hosts were eventually bowled out for 165 as New Zealand trimmed the series margin to 3-1 in the five-match contest.

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With Ishan Kishan missing out due to an unspecified injury, the responsibility was on Abhishek Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav to set the tone at the top.

But Abhishek departed on the very first ball, lofting Matt Henry straight to Devon Conway at deep point.

Suryakumar soon followed, his gentle push turning into a stunning return catch by Jacob Duffy as India slipped to 9 for 2.

Middle order struggles

Rinku Singh and Sanju Samson tried to steady the innings but found it hard to raise the tempo either inside the Power Play or later.

Rinku was trapped leg before by Zak Foulkes while Samson, after a delightful flicked six off Duffy, was beaten by Mitchell Santner’s straight one and bowled.

Hardik Pandya also failed to make an impact as India slid to 82 for five in the 11th over, leaving Dube and Harshit Rana to attempt the rescue.

Dube lights up the chase

Dube batted with complete freedom and showed little sign of the pressure from a climbing asking rate that hovered around 14.

Given a lifeline by DRS on 46, Dube reignited Indian hopes by hammering 29 runs off leg spinner Ish Sodhi’s third over. The assault featured a stunning sequence of 4, 6, 4, 6 and 6.

The left hander reached his fifty in just 15 balls with a six over square leg off Duffy. The sixth wicket pair added 63 runs though Rana’s share was a modest four.

Dube’s luck finally ran out when Rana’s straight drive deflected off Henry’s hand and crashed into the stumps at the non striker’s end, effectively ending India’s chase.

Seifert sets the platform

Earlier, New Zealand’s innings was anchored by Tim Seifert’s blistering half century.

Seifert struck 62 off 36 balls with seven fours and three sixes and stood out even though India managed to keep things tight through the middle overs.

Fresh from the Big Bash League, Seifert began aggressively, drilling Arshdeep Singh for three successive fours, two coming off edges.

He then launched Harshit Rana for a towering six over long on and followed it up with more boundaries, including a booming hit off Jasprit Bumrah that sailed to the sight screen.

New Zealand raced to fifty in the fourth over and finished the Power Play at 71 without loss.

Seifert’s charge allowed Devon Conway to find his rhythm. After starting slowly, Conway cut loose against Ravi Bishnoi, mixing power with placement.

Conway added 35 runs in quick time but fell to Rinku Singh at deep cover off Kuldeep Yadav, ending a 100-run opening stand.

India briefly clawed back by picking four wickets for 37 runs but Daryl Mitchell’s unbeaten 39 off 18 balls ensured New Zealand crossed the 200 mark and stayed firmly in control.

(With PTI Inputs)