NEW DELHI: Tim Seifert played a blazing knock but India’s disciplined bowling through the middle overs ensured New Zealand could not push past 215 for seven in the fourth T20I on Wednesday.

Seifert (62 off 36 balls, 7 fours, 3 sixes) was easily the pick of the Kiwi batters, though the lack of sustained support meant the early advantage wasn’t fully converted after India chose to bowl first.

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Fresh from the Big Bash League, Seifert made his intent clear straightaway, cracking Arshdeep Singh for three consecutive fours, even if a couple came via thick edges.

The aggression continued in the following over as the right-hander launched Harshit Rana over long-on for a six, underlining his clean hitting and confidence.

In Rana’s next spell, Seifert squeezed out a six and a four off back-to-back deliveries before sending a Jasprit Bumrah ball soaring towards the sightscreen for another maximum.

New Zealand raced to fifty inside four overs and wrapped up a dominant Powerplay at 71 without loss.

Conway settles in, stand broken

Seifert’s whirlwind start allowed Devon Conway (44) the freedom to play himself in before taking on the bowlers.

After a quiet start that saw him crawl to 9 off 9 balls, the left-hander opened up against Ravi Bishnoi, collecting two fours and a six — a loft over long-on and mid-wicket, a crisp square cut and a slog sweep.

Conway scored 35 runs off his next 13 balls but his stay ended when he mistimed a shot to deep cover, where Rinku Singh completed the catch off Kuldeep Yadav, breaking a 100-run opening stand.

Seifert soon brought up his half-century off just 25 balls, but India sensed an opening and struck four times for 37 runs, reducing New Zealand to 137 for four in 13.4 overs.

India claw back in middle overs

There was no dramatic spell from the Indian bowlers, yet the pressure built as the New Zealand batters tried too hard to maintain the earlier scoring rate of 12 an over set by the openers.

That eagerness led to a cluster of wickets, halting the visitors’ momentum.

Skipper Mitchell Santner looked in good touch, smashing Bishnoi for a four and a six off successive balls, but a hesitant call for a quick single proved costly as Hardik Pandya’s direct hit found him short. Pandya, notably, did not bowl in the match.

Daryl Mitchell (39 not out off 18 balls) provided late impetus with some powerful strokes at the death, pushing New Zealand past the 200-run mark. Still, even with Ishan Kishan sidelined, the visitors may feel they finished about 20 runs short on what appeared to be a good batting surface.

(With PTI Inputs)