New Zealand clinched the T20 series against West Indies after winning both matches. Lockie Ferguson was the key man in first ODI by taking 5 important wickets in 4 over spell. Glenn Phillips stepped up in the 2nd ODI and scored a brilliant ton. He took off from very start and scored 108 of 51 deliveries smashing it all around the park with 8 sixes and 10 fours.
Glenn Phillips was named the Player of the Match after a stellar show in the second T20
In the second ODI, West Indies won the toss and chose to bat with a bit of eruption by rains. It was a slow-moving wicket at Mount Maunganui and initially Picking up big shots proved to be a bit difficult. However, Martin Guptill looked in good form and smashed boundaries but his opening partner Tim Seifert struggled to time it middle of the bat. Martin Guptill was dismissed for 34 and when Seifert fell cheaply, New Zealand were struggling against the West Indies.
Glenn Phillips had a great opportunity to prove himself again and he smashed a 45-ball century which became the fastest century by a New Zealand player in Twenty20 Internationals, bettering the mark of 46 balls which was set by Colin Munro against the West Indies at the same venue a couple of years ago.
New Zealand managed 238 on a scoreboard with the help of Glenn Philips and Devon Conway scoring 65 of just 37 balls. NZ’s bowlers did there job by taking WI’s opener on the very first ball; setting a tone and pressure on the opponents. Nothing seemed to be going for West Indies as they lost wickets in regular intervals failing to create good partnerships. Kieron Pollard and Keemo Paul hit a few strong blows, but the asking rate of 17-18 runs per over was always going to be tough. West Indies managed to score 166 runs and New Zealand won the match by 72 runs.
After the match, Phillips said, “Nice to be able to be up there with him Munro on the leaderboard. Batting with Dev (Conway) was incredible. You always go with confidence against guys you have done well against. New ground and I tried to adapt as much as I could. All the coaches and players that I grew up with are a major part of who I am today.”
It was a delight for the fans at the Bay Oval as they witnessed a dazzling exhibition of batting from Glenn Phillips.
