New Zealand won the final match, while India finished as series winners. That distinction is the main takeaway from the fifth T20I at Seddon Park, Hamilton, on 1 November 2026. The hosts completed a seven-wicket victory, but India retained a 3–2 advantage across the five matches. This report covers a completed game rather than a live score feed.
Final score and winning margin
India made 191/8 in 20 overs. New Zealand reached 195/3 in 18 overs while chasing a target of 192, finishing with 12 deliveries unused. A seven-wicket margin describes the wickets the chasing team still had available; it does not mean India lost seven wickets. India actually lost eight in their innings.
Milne strikes, India rebuild
Adam Milne disrupted India’s start and finished with 4/19, earning the Player of the Match award. Ishan Kishan contributed 61 and Shreyas Iyer made 50 to rebuild the innings. Naman Dhir added 33. Those contributions gave India a substantial total, but the recovery was not enough to secure the result.
Seifert and Phillips control the chase
Tim Seifert scored 93, with Glenn Phillips unbeaten on 65 at the finish. Their contributions meant New Zealand did not need a final-over scramble. Completing the chase in 18 overs also distinguishes this result from a narrow win secured with one delivery remaining. India were unable to stretch the contest into that closing phase.
Analysis: a total needs a successful defence
A first-innings total is only one half of a T20 contest. Defending it requires the bowling side to limit scoring opportunities while taking enough wickets to interrupt partnerships. The result here shows that India’s batting recovery and New Zealand’s successful chase can both be true. The former does not imply the target was automatically safe. This is our reading of the scorecard, rather than a claim about private team plans or a quotation from either captain.
Why India still won the series
India won the opening three T20Is. New Zealand then won the fourth and fifth, reducing the final margin to 3–2. The late recovery changed the shape of the series without changing its winner. Phillips was named Player of the Series after scoring 341 runs across the competition.
Quick questions
Who won the fifth T20I? New Zealand, by seven wickets.
Who won the series? India, 3–2.
Where was the finale played? Seddon Park in Hamilton.
Is this a live score? No. It is the final result of the match played on 1 November.
Read the previous match separately
Our fourth T20I report and analysis covers the earlier Auckland match. Keeping the match number and venue in view helps avoid confusing that result with the Hamilton finale.
Official sources
BCCI Match Centre · NZC scorecard · ICC match report
