Delhi: New Zealand's star all-rounder Glenn Phillips got angry when asked about his team's poor fielding in the first T20 match against India. In this match played in Christchurch, New Zealand players took many catches, taking advantage of which India achieved the target of 226 runs. After the match, when Phillips was questioned about missing four catches, he raised questions on this count itself.
Let us tell you that India defeated New Zealand by 4 wickets in the match played on Thursday, 22 October. With this victory, Team India took a 1-0 lead in the five-match T20 series.
Also read: SA vs AUS: South Africa defeated Australia by an innings and 31 runs, series tied at 1-1
Phillips got angry on the question of missing four catches
After the match, an Indian journalist questioned Phillips about New Zealand's fielding and missing four catches. On this, Phillips asked which occasions were considered as missed catches. He acknowledged that Mitchell Santner and Finn Allen missed catches, but objected to placing the chances involving Lockie Ferguson and Matt Henry in the same category.
Phillips said that for an occasion to be called a missed catch, a hand on the ball must be present. According to him, if the player could not reach the ball, then he should not be included in the count of dropped catches.
New Zealand lost advantage on these occasions
During the match, New Zealand players missed some opportunities which could have affected the result. Mitchell Santner could not take a difficult catch of Axar Patel in 12.5 overs. After this, in the 14th over, Matt Henry had a chance not to run out Akshar but to take a catch on his own ball, but he could not complete it.
Apart from this, Finn Allen dropped the catch of Shreyas Iyer in 14.6 overs. At the same time, in 17.6 overs, the outer edge from Naman Dheer's bat could not reach the hands of Lockie Ferguson and the ball went across the boundary line.
Phillips questioned the inclusion of the last two chances in the count of missed catches. He believed that it is not right to count these occasions as dropping catches.
There was debate on Naman Dheer's six also.
Another interesting opportunity came in 16.2 overs during Naman Dhir's batting. Nathan Smith tried to take a brilliant catch on the boundary, but he lost his balance and along with the ball, he too went across the boundary line. Because of this India got a six.
Also read: NZ vs IND: 5 amazing records, which Team India made while chasing the target of 226 runs
When this occasion was also included in the discussion of missing the catch, Phillips expressed surprise. He asked whether this attempt for a six on the boundary would also be considered as a missed catch. After this he said that if fielding has to be discussed, then the catches should be counted properly.