NZ can upset Pakistan, says Phillips
Fresh off a confidence-boosting innings, Glenn Phillips declared the Black Caps ‘‘more than a fighting chance’’ as they eye one of international cricket’s most daunting tasks.
Ahead of his first Twenty20 international since January, the
21-year-old opener cracked 48 off
36 balls in New Zealand’s solitary warmup match – a 37-run win over the United Arab Emirates in Abu Dhabi yesterday.
Meanwhile, up the road in Dubai, Pakistan were teaching Australia another lesson, completing a 3-0 T20 sweep to extend their winning streak to a remarkable 10 successive series under captain Sarfraz Ahmed.
It looks mission improbable for the Black Caps in game one on Thursday (5am NZT), playing their first international in almost seven months against the world’s top-ranked T20 side in full flight.
But Phillips insists there are grounds for optimism as he reunites with Colin Munro at the top, for the injured Martin Guptill.
‘‘Conditions have been a little tricky now and again and adapting to them is the key for us. Having that T20 series win against Pakistan A was a real confidence boost for our boys knowing we can win away from home,’’ Phillips said.
‘‘I reckon we’ve got the team to upset Pakistan and if we bring everything together and work hard we’ll be able to pull out our best performance.’’
Phillips, Mark Chapman, Corey Anderson, Tim Seifert and Lockie Ferguson all joined the Black Caps’ 13-man squad after playing for New Zealand A in their 2-1 T20 series win over Pakistan A.
After being shot out for 65 in game one, NZA won the next two with Phillips hitting 53 off 44 balls then an unbeaten 69 off 50 to confirm a recall for his ninth T20 international and first since the home Pakistan series in January.
Then in the three one-day matches NZA lost 3-0 with Phillips lasting a combined seven deliveries for three ducks. In two of those he was removed by the giant Mohammad Irfan.
Clearly T20 is Phillips’ game, and dealing with the Pakistan spin threat led by Shadab Khan on two-paced pitches is the challenge for the New Zealand batsmen this week.
‘‘Every team has a weakness and if we play to our best potential I’m sure we can be more than a fighting chance to win this series,’’ he said. ‘‘In terms of how they’re bowling at the moment they’re not really turning it much, it’s more the fact they’re so accurate. If we can find ways to get off strike and keep rotating we’ve got the power in our lineup to take any bowler down.’’
Legspinner Ish Sodhi showed his value to New Zealand, snaring
2-11 off three overs while senior swing bowler Tim Southee took
2-24 off four as they restricted UAE to 124-8.
With the bat Chapman was effective, retiring on 36 off 25 balls, while Seifert blasted 29 off
18 at the end. Captain Kane Williamson was run out for 11 while Munro (9) and Colin de Grandhomme (1) missed a chance for significant knocks ahead of the three-match series.
Fast bowler Ferguson and allrounder Anderson both sat out the UAE match after playing for NZ A, with Ferguson at least looking a strong chance of featuring in game one.