AUCKLAND — Glenn Phillips hit 107 off 49 balls at Eden Park on Friday night to carry New Zealand to 259 for 7, the highest total the country has made in a Twenty20 international, and the Black Caps beat India by 87 runs at the fourth attempt in a series they had already lost.

Jacob Duffy took two wickets in the first over of the reply and finished with 4 for 23 as India, set 260 to win, were held to 172 for 9. India lead the five-match series 3-1 with one game to play.

The margin is the second-heaviest defeat India have suffered in the format by runs, according to Outlook India, bettered only by a 125-run loss to England at Nottingham this year. It also ended a run of three straight defeats for New Zealand, who had watched India overhaul 225, 180 and 198 in the first three matches.

Shreyas Iyer won the toss for the fourth match in a row and put New Zealand in. Mayank Yadav had Tim Seifert caught at deep third in the opening over and took 3 for 48, the best figures of a punishing night for India's bowlers.

Phillips came in at No. 4 and took 31 balls over his fifty before the innings turned. He hit Nitish Kumar Reddy for four sixes in a row in an over that cost 32 runs, reached three figures from 46 balls and finished with six fours and 10 sixes. Reddy, who conceded 64 runs in his four overs, had him caught at deep extra cover in the final over.

It was Phillips' third Twenty20 international century. Only Colin Munro has scored as many for New Zealand.

"I don't think you've ever got enough to feel comfortable with this side," Phillips said after the match, in remarks reported by Cricinfo. "You need a ton of runs to even have a sniff of beating India."

New Zealand were 112 for 4 in the 11th over when Michael Bracewell joined him. The left-hander, known as The Beast, reached fifty from 19 balls and made 65 off 25 with 10 boundaries, his highest score in his 51st Twenty20 international. Their stand produced 115 runs in 41 balls and ended only when Bracewell was given out lbw to Prince Yadav, the score 227 for 5 with 16 balls left.

"That felt like a bit of a whirlwind. Yeah, it was a lot of fun," Phillips said. "Also being at the other end while The Beast was going bananas was fantastic. Look, obviously crazy things happen at Eden Park all the time."

The total beat New Zealand's previous best of 254 for 5 against Scotland in Edinburgh in 2022. Outlook India said it is also the highest any side has made against India, and Reuters reported it as the first total above 250 in a Twenty20 international on New Zealand soil.

Duffy changed tack after Sanju Samson hit his first ball of the chase for four, digging the next one in short to have the opener caught behind by Seifert for 4. Three balls later he caught and bowled Ishan Kishan, back in the side, for nought. India were 4 for 2.

Abhishek Sharma, whose 113 off 38 balls in Wellington on Tuesday had settled the series, greeted Matthew Fisher with a six and a four before picking out the captain, Mitchell Santner, at mid-off for 27 off 15. Adam Milne then bowled Iyer for 22 off 11 to make it 56 for 4, and India closed the powerplay on 61 for 4.

Santner took his 150th wicket in the format when Reddy was caught at cover for 21, and in the same over he caught and bowled Axar Patel to leave India 89 for 6. Arshdeep Singh had passed the same mark earlier in the night: DD News, citing the news agency ANI, said he became the first India bowler to reach 150 Twenty20 international wickets, dismissing Santner in the penultimate over of New Zealand's innings.

Tilak Varma's 35 off 35 balls was the highest score of the innings. Naman Dhir made 28 off 13 before Daryl Mitchell flicked the ball back from the rope and Nathan Smith threw himself backwards to hold the catch. Many in a crowd of almost 40,000 began leaving at that point, Stuff reported.

Iyer blamed the start India made with the ball.

"I think we fell a bit short in our bowling to start with. Powerplay, especially in the third over, they got that momentum from there on," the captain said at the post-match presentation, in remarks reported by ANI. Of Phillips he said: "Some phenomenal shots, which were like pure bliss. So kudos to him. He's been consistent throughout the series, so a lot to learn from him."

Iyer said some of his players were seeing New Zealand's ground dimensions for the first time, and that India would go back to the drawing board.

Phillips, who had passed fifty in each of the first two matches in Christchurch without winning, said the score would stay with the team. "It's our first time being up in that 250 range, I think, or at least in the time that I can remember," he said.

The fifth and final Twenty20 international is in Hamilton on Sunday, after which the two sides play five one-day internationals and two Tests, the first in Wellington from November 19.