New Zealand opener Tim Seifert created history during the fourth ODI between New Zealand and India at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui on November 13. The New Zealand wicketkeeper-batter became the first Kiwi batter to score a half-century inside the first 10 overs of an ODI against India.
Seifert reached the milestone in just 39 deliveries, ending a 27-year-old record. He eventually scored 58 runs off 48 balls, including six fours and three sixes, registering his maiden ODI half-century in his eighth appearance in the 50-over format.
The previous record belonged to former New Zealand batter Bryan Young, who scored 47 runs off 35 balls against India in Wellington on January 14, 1999. Young eventually finished the innings with 52 runs off 40 deliveries.
Seifert went past that achievement with his aggressive batting at Bay Oval.
Meanwhile, Gurnoor Brar ended Seifert’s innings in the 12th over, with wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan completing a diving catch behind the stumps.
However, the dismissal was followed by a heated exchange between the two players. Brar gave Seifert a fiery send-off, prompting Virat Kohli to intervene and take the young Indian pacer away from the New Zealand batter.
Before his dismissal, Seifert had shared an 85-run opening alliance with Will Young in 12 overs, giving the hosts a strong start.
Young scored 125 runs off 108 deliveries, including seven fours and two sixes. The New Zealand opener completed his fifth ODI century and his first against India after having the rub of the green early in the innings as he was dropped twice by Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan when he was on five.
Thus, he played a key role in helping the Kiwis post 333 runs on the board after they were put into bat by Indian skipper Shreyas Iyer.
