‘Crucial to keep us in the game - Tim Southee heaps praise on Glenn Phillips after match winning performance against Bangladesh

New Zealand pulled off a brilliant run-chase against Bangladesh in the second Test of their ongoing series. Chasing down a target of 137 runs in the second innings, the Black Caps put in a brilliant performance and won the game by four wickets to level the series.

After the win, New Zealand skipper Tim Southee seemed cheerful. He lauded his side’s ability to combat the spin attack of the home side on a surface that was significantly spin-friendly. Besides, Southee also talked about Glenn Phillips’ performance with both the bat and the ball.

"On a pretty difficult wicket, there are pretty good things to take out of it. Obviously, Glenn Phillips's effort throughout the match, his innings in the first innings was obviously crucial to keep us in the game and get us past Bangladesh in the first innings, he's still young in his spin career and the impact he's had with the ball in this series has been pleasing,” Southee said during the post-match press conference. 

"We obviously didn't get the big scores that we would like, but on a wicket like that, 20-30 run partnerships here and there go a long way. And Ajaz obviously, in spin-friendly conditions, showed his class in picking up six wickets,” the visiting skipper further continued.

He's a very positive guy in the way he plays: Southee

Furthermore, Tim Southee heaped praise on Glenn Phillips for his match-winning performance that propelled the Black Caps to victory in the second Test. It is worth noting that Glenn Phillips took three wickets and scored 87 runs and a match-winning knock of 40* runs in 48 deliveries in the second innings as New Zealand chased down a target of 137 runs.

"He's a very positive guy in the way he plays. It's a different format, but he still trusted that his way was the right way. So, I think it's pleasing to see on a difficult wicket, and I look back to a few of his innings and a lot of his great innings have been on difficult wickets," Southee concluded.