Glenn Phillips sets a new world record, causing trouble for India

Bangla Press Desk Glenn Phillips has set a new world record, becoming the highest run-scorer in a bilateral T20 series. He achieved this feat during the fifth and final match against India at Seddon Park in Hamilton on Sunday, where New Zealand secured a seven-wicket victory.

India ultimately won the five-match series 3–2, having taken an early lead by winning the first three games. However, Sunday belonged entirely to Glenn Phillips and Tim Seifert.

In the final match, Phillips scored an unbeaten 65 off 38 balls, bringing his total for the five-match series to 341 runs—a new world record. The previous record for the most runs in a single series stood at 331, set by England’s Phil Salt against the West Indies in 2023.

Phillips was in spectacular form throughout the series. In the first three matches, he remained unbeaten with scores of 82, 70, and 17. In the fourth match in Auckland, he smashed a brilliant 107, helping New Zealand win by 87 runs. He then cemented the record on Sunday with another unbeaten half-century.

Chasing a target of 192, New Zealand reached 195 for the loss of three wickets with two overs to spare. While Phillips saw the team home, it was Tim Seifert who set the tone for the innings.

After opener Finn Allen was dismissed in the second over, Seifert launched a fierce counter-attack. Having been relatively quiet in the first four matches of the series, the 31-year-old batter exploded, scoring 93 runs off just 50 balls—an innings that included 11 fours and five sixes—effectively dismantling the Indian bowling attack.

A maiden T20 century seemed almost certain for Seifert, but his hopes were dashed in the 16th over when an inside edge off a delivery from Nitish Kumar Reddy sent the ball crashing into his stumps. A disappointed Seifert left the field, finishing with what became his 18th T20 half-century. Earlier, pacer Adam Milne laid the foundation for New Zealand, taking 4 wickets for 19 runs. He dismissed both openers early, reducing India to 19 for 2.

India then staged a recovery, with Ishan Kishan and captain Shreyas Iyer adding 93 runs for the third wicket in just 7.1 overs. Kishan scored 61, while Iyer contributed 50. This partnership raised hopes of a big total, but Milne returned to stall the innings. Nathan Smith and Blair Tickner claimed two wickets each. India finished on 191 for 8 in their allotted 20 overs.

The T20 leg has concluded. Now, the two teams will face each other in an ODI series. A five-match ODI series begins next Wednesday in Auckland, followed by a two-match Test series.