Photo via CricTracker

'Four catches? Which ones?' Glenn Phillips corrects reporter after heartbreaking loss in 1st T20I vs India

New Zealand fell short by four wickets in the opening T20 International against India at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on October 22, 2026, after India chased down 225 runs to finish on 230 for 6 with two balls to spare. Glenn Phillips anchored the Kiwi innings with an unbeaten 82 off 40 balls, hitting eight fours and three sixes, but the total proved too much to defend.

After the match, Phillips challenged media reports that New Zealand had dropped four catches, insisting only genuine hand‑to‑ball drops should be counted and pointing out that only two clear chances – a missed catch by Mitchell Santner off Axar Patel and a difficult drop by Matt Henry – fit that description. He also praised India’s chase, noting the difficulty of defending such a high target on larger boundaries.

Phillips emphasized the need for accurate fielding statistics and gave credit to the Indian side for a solid chase, while acknowledging the missed opportunities did not change the overall quality of the opposition’s effort.

Up nextCricket· 23m ago

Jintimani Kalita makes India debut in first ODI against Zimbabwe