Glenn Phillips has made a remarkable impact in his recent performances in Pakistan, scoring 215 runs in four ODIs, including a strong 61 off 39 balls in New Zealand’s Champions Trophy opener against the hosts. His success stems from clarity and composure at the crease. Phillips noted that earlier conditions made run-scoring challenging but credits a strong partnership with Tom Latham for pushing New Zealand past 300. They scored 125 runs from 74 balls late in the innings. New Zealand’s adaptability on varying pitch conditions will be critical as they continue their tournament, with upcoming matches against Bangladesh and India.
What’s his secret? “I’m feeling really clear right now, I’m seeing the ball well, and I think being still at the moment of contact is crucial for being able to hit,” Phillips shared after New Zealand’s 60-run victory in Karachi. “I haven’t always had it right in the past, but I’ve really found a groove at the moment.”
What were the factors that constrained batters prior to this partnership? “I think we played on a different pitch, and it plays differently each time we’ve been here [in Karachi].”
“The pacers, I believe, were definitely tougher to face during the day when the ball was uneven. The way Matt Henry and Will O’Rourke bowled [during the chase] speaks to how effective they were, but I think during the day the Pakistan bowlers, especially at the start, made it quite challenging for us to get off to a good start.”
“We’ve shown great adaptability to varying pitch conditions, and it was nice to see some turn out there in the evening.”
New Zealand’s next match is against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi on February 24, before they head to Dubai to face India on March 2. They will need to continue adjusting for the time being to reach the semi-finals and beyond, but this was a solid start in that direction.