In the Mirpur Test, all-rounders Glenn Phillips and Mitchell Santner of New Zealand pulled off an amazing comeback, saving their side from a precarious position of 69 for six in the 137-run chase. The pair’s tenacity paid off at a pivotal moment as they salvaged the innings on what New Zealand captain Tim Southee described as the “worst pitch” of his career.
They were having trouble against the Bangladeshi bowlers, according to Glenn Phillips, who led the team in scoring with 87 and an undefeated 40 in both innings. But he did explain his batting strategy to Mitchell Santner during the tea break, emphasizing the importance of playing with quick hands and staying on the left side of the ball. Mitchell Santner took the suggestion and went on to have a fine inning, finishing undefeated at 35 to lead New Zealand to victory.
“At the moment, they were bowling pretty well. Getting to tea was a true blessing for us. We spoke briefly and discussed some strategies. His hands move really quickly. I told him my strategy, which is to play the ball with my hands and bats while remaining leg-side of it. He believed it to be a wise choice for him as well. It was pretty impressive how he played the offies, came out after tea and really went after the bowlers. It relieved me of the burden,” Phillips remarked, according to ESPNcricinfo.
The Kiwis’ star batsman for both innings, Phillips, revealed his game plan, stating that he planned to bat in the second innings in the same manner as the first.
“I believe that in the end, I followed my plan. In the first inning, it was effective. It was staying with the changes we made from the previous game and maintaining my composure and clarity. Ultimately, the goal was to score one run at a time, but I continued to assault the bowlers when they mishandled. Go as deep as you can,” he advised.
With the new ball, Bangladesh’s bowlers performed admirably. Glenn Phillips
While recognizing the difficult job facing New Zealand hitters, Phillips commended the Bangladeshi bowlers on their early successes. In addition, he discussed the importance of Bangladesh’s eight-run advantage at the conclusion of the first innings and said that winning the toss was crucial.
“The bowlers from Bangladesh performed well with the new ball. Some kept skidding, while others spun. The going was hard on our batsmen. The older the ball got, the more predictable it became. Thank goodness, it gave us additional scoring opportunities,” he remarked.
Phillips contributed eight wickets in the series and showed great skill with the ball during the match. In expressing his happiness, Phillips said that bowling so many overs had long been his ambition.
“Bowling that many overs was something I had always wanted to do. to also be capable of taking a few wickets. My genuine experience with the procedure has paid off. Despite the fact that I lack experience, Timmy (Southee) had the guts to approach me, and fortunately, the circumstances were in favor of spinners,” he said.
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