Glenn Phillips credits India for record chase and points to NZ’s errors in the half

Glenn Phillips felt New Zealand missed opportunities to put India under pressure in the middle overs after the hosts took a four-wicket win in the first T20I on Thursday to successfully chase down a target of 226. The New Zealand all-rounder credited India’s batting but said his side needed to be more efficient with the ball and sharper in the field.

Phillips, who hit an unbeaten 82 to guide New Zealand to 225, said the team had drawn up plans to counter India’s aggressive approach. But he admitted that having a plan isn’t enough if the players can’t execute it when it matters.

“We have all our plans on the drawing board, but at the end of the day you have to make them happen,” Phillips said in the postgame press conference.

New Zealand set India a tough targetbut the tourists found a way to keep the chase on track. Phillips pointed to India’s ability to adapt to the conditions, especially the bounce on offer, as one of the reasons they managed to get over the line.

“The pitches are fantastic as well. The bounce is probably a bit more than they’re used to and they adjusted really well today,” he said.

For Phillips, the key turning point was the middle overs when New Zealand needed to break India’s momentum. He believed that a few extra wickets or a sustained spell of dots could have made the chase much more difficult and forced the Indian batsmen to take more risks.

1st T20I: Highlights | Scorecard

“Maybe we take a few more wickets in the middle or string a few more dots together and put them under pressure and they don’t chase it, then obviously it looks a bit different too,” he said.

Phillips was also keen to acknowledge the scale of India’s efforts, rather than focus solely on what New Zealand could have done differently. Chasing 226 required sustained pressure on the bowling side and India managed to maintain their attack despite the target.

“You also have to commend the chasing party for chasing 226. It’s always a good chase,” he said.

He added that the Indian batsmen have adapted well to the slightly bigger boundaries, which is another factor they had to consider when playing on the ground.

Fielding also came under scrutiny after the match, with Phillips questioning the effect of dropped catches on New Zealand’s chances. He dismissed the suggestion that every missed opportunity should automatically be classed as a dropped catch, stressing that the difference matters when evaluating a team’s performance.

“There are catches and catches happen, but we have to count them properly,” he said.

“You have to catch the ball to catch it.

New Zealand will need to address these lapses as they look to respond after their opening defeat. Phillips’ innings gave his side a strong platform, but India’s successful chase left the visitors with clear areas to work on, particularly their ability to take wickets and build pressure during the middle overs.

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