Glenn Phillips says New Zealand must improve middle-over control
Phillips credited India for chasing 226 but said New Zealand must take more middle-over wickets and tighten fielding.
Glenn Phillips top-scored for New Zealand with an unbeaten 82, yet he spent more time talking about what his side failed to do. India chased 226 in the first T20I, and Phillips said the damage came in the middle overs, where New Zealand took too few wickets and gave away too many easy runs.
He admitted the plans were in place to slow India's batters, but they weren't executed. Dot balls would have kept the required rate in check; instead, India reset after the powerplay and never looked back. Phillips also pushed back on fielding criticism, saying only genuine dropped catches should count against his side.
The second match is on Saturday at the same venue, with India already 1-0 up.
CricHubb Take
New Zealand's biggest problem isn't the powerplay — it's the middle overs where India reset and took control. Unless they start turning those phases into pressure again, the series could be gone before the venues change.