Glenn Phillips and Devon Conway put together the best T20I partnership for any terrain other than first, establishing New Zealand’s impressive 72-race victory in the second T20I at Mount Maunganui.
The fastest T20I ton by a New Zealand player, two catches and a brilliant career from Glenn Phillips helped New Zealand seal a series win against the West Indies on Sunday with one game to play. The hosts got off to a good start to the day and took a truly advantageous position in the final four overs of their innings when Phillips and Conway looted 70 runs.
The attack led New Zealand to 238/3 in 20 overs, their third-highest total in the format. If the chase wasn’t tough enough already, Brandon King’s early entry into a good delivery from Kyle Jamieson followed by the race without Andre Fletcher compounded the West Indies’ troubles.
For the tenth final, New Zealand also had rookies Kyle Mayers and Nicholas Pooran back in the cabin, the former eliminated by a brilliant catch by centurion, Phillips. A late cameo from Kieron Pollard failed to soften the blow, as the West Indies finished 166/9 in 20 overs.
Earlier in the day, the visitors won the draw and opted to pitch first with Kieron Pollard citing the possibility of rain as a reason. Tim Seifert (18 of 13) was fired after a brief cameo when he tried to be cheeky against Oshane Thomas. Martin Guptill (34 of 23) was also fired in the next over and the West Indies appeared to have taken control of the proceedings.
However, Conway and Phillips seemed to be in good contact, and they took the time to look before attacking. They were both at 15 with a little more run in the middle of innings before they started charging.
Phillips hit six and four in a row from Keemo Paul’s second over to push New Zealand’s total to more than 100. Two overs later, he hit Fabian Allen for a hat-trick of sixes in a 24-run and the team ran. the rate soared to more than 10 runs for more.
New Zealand clinch the three-match T20I series with a game to spare 🎉
The West Indies finish 166/9 in response to New Zealand’s 238/3.
What an emphatic performance from the hosts 🙌 #NZvWI pic.twitter.com/pWbIXksNnK
– ICC (@ICC) November 29, 2020
The rain break shortly after had no effect on the momentum that Conway and Phillips had built up. The two consolidated until the last four overs before the carnage unfolded, with 47 races withdrawn from the 17th and 18th in total.
Phillips raced to a 46-ball century, the fastest of a Kiwi in the format, and Devon Conway completed a T20I fifty for the first time in the final frenzy. The total seemed beyond the reach of the West Indies after New Zealand’s first lost wickets were able to ram home the lead.
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