New Zealand tour of West Indies: Glenn Phillips, spinners shine as NZ beat WI by 90 runs in 2nd T20I
India Today
Glenn Phillips scored 76 off just 41 before Michael Bracewell and Mitchell Santner took three wickets each to help New Zealand take an unassailable lead 2-0 in the three-match T20I series against West Indies.
Glenn Phillips's half-century, Michael Bracewell and Mitchell Santner's three-wicket haul each helped New Zealand to beat West Indies by 90 runs in the second T20I in Kingston.
With the victory, the Kane Williamson-led side took an unassailable lead of 2-0 in the three-match series on Friday (August 12).
Phillips, who went on to score 76 off 41, and Daryl Mitchell's quickfire 20-ball 48 helped New Zealand post a mammoth total of 215 for the loss of five wickets after opting to bat. Phillips's innings was studded by six sixes and four boundaries. It was his fifth fifty in the shortest format of the game. Phillips added 71 runs for the third wicket with Devon Conway (42) and later on an 83-run stand with Mitchell.
In reply, West Indies were able to reach only 125 for nine as spinners Bracewell and Santner denied the hosts to form any partnerships enroute to rattling the Caribbean lineup. After being reduced to 40/6 inside 10 overs, Romario Shepherd and Rovman Powell formed a brief stand of 35 runs. However, the two perished in the space of nine balls to Santner and Ish Sodhi respectively.
With the asking run rate creeping, Obed McCoy remained unbeaten on 23 off 15 in a match that was already lost. Meanwhile, for Phillips, it was just a case of applying his knowledge of conditions at Sabina Park, which is his home ground in the Caribbean Premier League.
"Coming back to Sabina Park is amazing. I’ve got great memories here,” Phillips said after the match. "Being able to get a 50 for my country over here in front of a crowd which I really love is definitely very special for me.
"Credit to the West Indies for the way they bowled up front with the new ball which was really, really good in terms of taking the pace off the ball when it was new and harder. As it got older the pitch became a bit nicer to bat on."
