LAHORE, Pakistan — In an exciting start to the tri-nation cricket series, Glenn Phillips showcased his extraordinary talent by scoring his inaugural one-day international century while leading New Zealand to a convincing 78-run victory over Pakistan. This match kicked off the series on Saturday, setting the stage for the upcoming Champions Trophy.
Phillips was in sensational form, finishing with an unbeaten score of 106 from just 74 deliveries, a performance that included six fours and seven sixes. Partnering with Daryl Mitchell and Kane Williamson, who both contributed significantly with 81 and 58 runs respectively, Phillips helped New Zealand to a solid total of 330 runs for the loss of six wickets after their allotted 50 overs on a well-prepared Gaddafi Stadium pitch.
In response, Pakistan’s top-order batsmen found themselves in a challenging position against New Zealand’s spin attack. Fakhar Zaman, returning to international cricket after a lengthy absence of over seven months due to health issues, played a spirited inning, scoring 84 runs off 69 balls. However, other key players in the batting lineup faltered, leading to Pakistan being bowled out for 252 runs within 47.5 overs.
Adding to a stellar day, Phillips not only played a pivotal role with the bat but also made a significant impact with the ball, dismissing Zaman leg before wicket and executing a remarkable catch to remove Babar Azam early in Pakistan’s batting innings. Babar, adjusting to his new role as an opener for the first time since 2015, struggled to find form, managing just 10 runs from 23 balls.
New Zealand’s captain, Mitchell Santner, excelled with the ball, taking three wickets for 41 runs, while Bracewell finished with figures of 2 for 41. The match’s flow was interrupted by an injury concern when Rachin Ravindra misjudged a catch and was struck in the face, prompting him to exit the field. Fast bowler Matt Henry also contributed by claiming three wickets for 55 runs.
In his explosive performance, Phillips notably targeted Pakistan’s leading fast bowlers, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah, in the closing overs, adding a remarkable 84 runs to New Zealand’s tally. Although Pakistan won the toss and managed to keep the Kiwi innings restricted to 246 for five at one point, Phillips changed the game’s momentum dramatically with his aggressive batting.
Williamson, in his first ODI appearance since November 2023, was cautious at the start of his innings, achieving his half-century off 82 balls—the slowest of his ODI career—before getting out to Afridi. Mitchell, who narrowly avoided a run-out early on, settled into the match and scored at nearly a run-a-ball before being dismissed on a low full toss.
In a further setback for Pakistan, their bowler Haris Rauf had to retire with a side strain, which limited his participation after the seventh over. Phillips shifted gears impressively, hitting three massive sixes off Agha Salman and managing an audacious reverse scoop over third man off Afridi’s bowling. He reached his century after a chaotic final over, which saw Afridi being taken for 25 runs, culminating with his overall bowling figures of 3 for 88 in ten overs. Meanwhile, Michael Bracewell added valuable runs, scoring 31 off 23 balls.
Looking ahead, the Gaddafi Stadium is among the three venues being prepared for the upcoming Champions Trophy, alongside Karachi and Rawalpindi, which will also host matches for the prestigious tournament. The next match in the tri-nation series will take place on Monday in Lahore, featuring South Africa against New Zealand, followed by two additional matches in Karachi, including the series final on February 14.
