Phillips braces for bigger tests after another rescue act
New Zealand's first game of the ongoing T20 World Cup and their final group game against Canada followed a remarkably similar script. Both matches were held in Chennai, both began at 11 AM, and in both games New Zealand's opponents managed to post substantial totals. Yet, both contests were comfortably won by New Zealand, and on each occasion it was Glenn Phillips who produced an early rescue act in the PowerPlay after the loss of two quick wickets.
Against Afghanistan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman provided an early scare in just the second over by dismissing Finn Allen and Rachin Ravindra off successive deliveries. Phillips walked in with clear intent and immediately took the attack to the opposition. Mujeeb himself was struck for three boundaries inside the PowerPlay and even Rashid Khan wasn't spared. By the time Phillips departed, New Zealand had already wiped out almost half the target, effectively taking the game away from Afghanistan.
On Tuesday (February 17), Canada too made an erratic but impactful start, removing Allen and Tim Seifert early to leave New Zealand wobbling at 30/2. These were the same two batters who had dismantled UAE at the same venue just days earlier in a dominant 10-wicket win. With qualification on the line, the pressure was very much present, especially after those early setbacks. This time, Phillips had Ravindra for company - a batter who hasn't been in the best of form in recent outings.
However, Phillips showed no signs of nerves and once again flipped the momentum pretty quick, smashing five sixes in a four-over burst. This time, he also ensured he stayed till the end to finish the job. With Ravindra settling in and bringing up a timely fifty, Phillips even unleashed his trademark switch-hit that sailed over the ropes. "Obviously short side, leg side, and the reason for switching rather than staying left-handed to start was to hopefully keep that gap over cow corner free," Phillips said after the game. "So obviously the opportunity came to use it today and sometimes you've actually still got to bring it out and have the courage to use it in a game, which can be hard, but if you've practiced it, you've got to trust it."
Phillips' form will be a major boost for New Zealand as they head into the Super 8 stages. While the openers have been in excellent touch recently, the team will need contributions from the middle order as well, particularly on days when the top order fails to fire, as was the case against Canada. Such scenarios are unlikely to be rare as they now move from India to Sri Lanka, where conditions are expected to be far more demanding for batters.
New Zealand are scheduled to face Sri Lanka, England and, in all likelihood, Pakistan, with all three fixtures set to be played at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. History, even in this ongoing World Cup, suggests that batting is unlikely to be as straightforward at that venue as it usually is in India. Phillips himself acknowledged that the shift in conditions will require a shift in approach.
"We did have a good experience over here a year or so back playing Sri Lanka when they were really, really strong at home," he recalled. "They were producing pitches that were turning a lot, and having that experience helps. I don't think they'll turn to that extent this time, but it's about understanding our options, how we attack the game, and whether 160 becomes a good score. The grounds are bigger as well, so twos and threes will be more crucial than just boundaries."
For both Phillips and Ravindra, their roles in Sri Lanka could extend beyond just batting. In the recent India-Pakistan clash at the same venue, Pakistan bowled 18 overs of spin while India responded with 13 overs (out of the 18 they bowled) of spin themselves. Teams like Sri Lanka and Pakistan are likely to lean heavily on their slow bowlers in those conditions, potentially giving them an edge. New Zealand are already without Michael Bracewell for this tournament, a loss Phillips had highlighted even before the Canada fixture. "Obviously Beast (Bracewell) is a big loss for us with his power and his bowling as well," Phillips had said. "But we do have the stocks with Ish (Sodhi), Rach (Ravindra) and myself to cover those overs, especially in this part of the world. We both love our bowling and the opportunity to contribute in both facets of the game."
To add to that, Mitchell Santner missed the Canada game due to illness, forcing New Zealand to bring in Cole McConchie, who endured a difficult outing. While Santner is expected to return for the first Super 8 fixture, the all-round contributions of Phillips and Ravindra could become even more crucial in the coming games, particularly if New Zealand are to overcome their disappointing 2024 campaign and make a deeper run this time.
