India Aims for Dominant 4-1 Series Finish in Final T20I Against New Zealand
Today's match in Hamilton concludes India's tour, while South Africa clinched their Test series against Australia and Pakistan triumphed in the ODI Tri-Series final.
The story
After a brief respite, India and New Zealand are set to clash in the fifth and final T20I of the series today in Hamilton. India, having already secured the series with a commanding 3-1 lead, will be looking to finish their tour on a high note. The Black Caps, fresh off their 87-run victory in the fourth T20I, will be eager to level the playing field before the ODI series begins.
Meanwhile, significant international cricket action unfolded yesterday. South Africa delivered a powerful performance to defeat Australia by 176 runs in the third and deciding Test in Cape Town, securing the series 2-1. Spinner Simon Harmer was a standout, claiming 6/16 in the second innings for match figures of 10/120. In Lahore, Pakistan emerged victorious in the final of the ODI Tri-Series, beating Sri Lanka by three wickets after successfully chasing down a target of 326. Fakhar Zaman's century anchored Pakistan's chase, ensuring their triumph.
Latest results
| Match | Format | Result | Star |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Africa vs Australia | Test | South Africa won by 176 runs | Simon Harmer (SA) 6/16 & 4/104 |
| Pakistan vs Sri Lanka | ODI | Pakistan won by 3 wickets | Fakhar Zaman (PAK) 100+ runs |
| India vs Bangladesh | T20 | India beat Bangladesh by 5 wickets | Not specified |
| Scotland vs United Arab Emirates | T20 | Scotland beat UAE by 45 runs | Not specified |
| Sri Lanka vs Hong Kong, China | T20 | Hong Kong, China beat Sri Lanka by 1 run | Not specified |
Series in play
India tour of New Zealand 2026. 5th T20I today; India leads 3-1
Australia tour of South Africa 2026. South Africa won Test series 2-1
ODI Tri-Series in Pakistan 2026. Pakistan won the final
Tables that matter
| Competition | Position | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ICC Test Team Rankings | 1. South Africa | South Africa moved to the top spot after their series win against Australia. |
| ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 | 1. New Zealand, 2. South Africa, 3. Australia, 4. India | New Zealand climbed to the top, with South Africa moving to second and Australia dropping to third after their series defeat. |
| ICC Men's ODI Team Rankings | 1. India | India retains the top position. |
| ICC Men's T20I Team Rankings | 2. India | India holds the second spot. |
What we'll be watching
- New Zealand vs India, 5th T20I, November 1, 2026, Seddon Park, Hamilton
- Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe, 3rd T20I, November 1, 2026, Sharjah
- Ireland vs Namibia, 5th ODI, November 1, 2026, Windhoek
Reporting + analyst voices: grounded via Google Search at publish time.