Champions Trophy | Tale of 2 catches: NZ fielders Glenn Philips and Kane Williamson help restrict India to 249/9 | Cricket News
Glenn with the wind, dares like an eagle
Before the match, Glenn Phillips was asked in the press conference about the incredible catches he takes. Jokingly, a reporter, wondered: ‘any particular glue stick you use?’ Philllips, the understated NZ cricketer that he is, said: “I think a great deal of luck comes involved. I wish I could say that I’ve got a special little glue tag that I use, but unfortunately, that’s not the case. If anything, my palms are more sweaty than anything else. Obviously comes down to a lot of hard work and doing the basics as much as I can and then sometimes luck just plays a good part in it.”
If it is luck, Phillips must be like Domino in the Deadpool movie. On Sunday in Dubai, he pulled off another stunner in the ICC Champions Trophy. This one that left Virat Kohli awestruck in his 300th ODI. The Indian star absolutely belted a square cut to a short ball wide outside offstump, and the ball seemed to be flying towards the boundary, but Phillips put in a dive like an eagle, and plucked the ball from behind his right shoulder.
Glenn Phillips, The Flying Machine. pic.twitter.com/FqP3f02Io0
— Prithvi (@Prithvi10_) March 2, 2025
It was the second time he had done so in the tournament, the previous one coming against Pakan when he flung himself to his left. “We kind of expect that from Glenn,” captain Mitch Santner had said back then. It has just become a habit for the world’s best fielder at the moment… but it makes your jaw drop everytime.
– Vinayakk Mohanarangan
Kane or Glenn? On Point
Hardik Pandya had used his flat, fast tennis forehand speed to pull a ball to the boundary just moments ago. There was savagery in the air and in his sinewy intent. So off he went on the off-site, twice trying to scythe-cut William O’Rourke past point. Glenn Philips had reached his 23rd catch in 49 matches with a peach of a one-hander. But Kane Williamson stationed there first cut off one of the hardest hit slashes at point as Hardik went muscling away.
degree of comparision :safe safer Kane Williamson 😎🖤😍 https://t.co/Y33da4fWIj pic.twitter.com/2NW9X1AKn0
— 🌞I V∀ɹ🌞 (@LaplaceTF) March 2, 2025
Not soon after, one was smacked right at Williamson’s ribs as his catching palms were jolted and the ball seemed to bounce off them and even hit the knee before rolling down. Crucially, he had absorbed the velocity of that strongly struck cut. He would respond like a Tom & Jerry cartoon, flapping his palms and leg, as if comically electrocuted. He smiled genially but was spotted next ball still trying to shrug off the impact.
None of any of this, however, could stop Williamson from diving full length to his left to send back Ravindra Jadeja next for a stunning catch. Kane better than Glenn? Maybe not quite. But certainly, they were India’s bane.
– Shivani Naik
