NEWS
Follow UsThe Netherlands put up a commendable fight against Pakistan and has them struggling at 38 for 3 inside the first powerplay. New Zealand batter Glenn Phillips is well aware of the threat they carry with them and believes it's crucial not to take them lightly.
"We approach every game the same way every time, every team is strong in their own right, especially on the given day. The Netherlands have a lot of strong players, and we're going to have to still put our best foot forward, as I'm sure they will," Phillips said ahead of the Netherlands game.
"So, keep coming up with our plans, doing our scouting, making sure that we have everything set in place, and not taking any team lightly."
Phillips further added that the Dutch will be a tough side to beat in the competition. "I think they're a really good team. Obviously, they've beaten quite a few good opponents to be able to qualify for the tournament in the first place. So, they're a team definitely not to be taken lightly," Phillips said.
"They have a lot of high professional cricketers that play all through county cricket as well. So, they've definitely got a good skill set. They know their roles. They bond together well as a team. And I definitely think they're going to be a tough team to beat in this competition."
New Zealand got off to the perfect start in the World Cup, beating defending champions England by nine wickets in the opening game of the tournament in Ahmedabad. Rachin Ravindra and Devon Conway scored unbeaten tons and also put on 273 for the second wicket that saw the Blackcaps sail home with almost 14 overs to spare.
"They were absolutely brilliant. Obviously, 270-odd run partnership is phenomenal, especially for two guys in their first World Cup," Phillips said.
"I guess from a team perspective, it's really nice to know that those two boys are in some serious for,m and obviously everyone in the warm-up games obviously had a nice little head out, and yeah, it's a good feeling in the camp at the moment."
Phillips, for one, was not surprised to see the way Ravindra batted. "I've played a lot of cricket with him back home,e and he actually plays a very aggressive brand of one-day cricket. Being up the top of the order," he said.
"He likes to play with a lot of flair. He plays that square drive incredibly well, which,h with the new ball, is an absolute asset. And then the way he combined with Dev as well, the tempo they both set, they struck at 120, 130 without even almost lifting a finger. It was phenomenal to watch."
While Phillips did not get a chance to bat against England, he picked up key wickets of Joe Root and Moeen Ali to put his side in command. He reckons that backing from the captains and coaching staff has helped him develop into a useful bowler.
"My bowling has been coming along for quite a while now. And to be able to get the opportunities on the big stage is a moment that I've been relishing for a long time," the 26-year-old said.
"It's really nice to have the backing of the coaching staff and obviously the captain as well, regardless of whether it's Kane [Williamson] or Tom [Latham], to be able to go out there and then look at me and go.
"Okay, we can use them for this specific role, and if that sort of opportunity comes up, throw me the ball and say, hey, you know we're all a team in this together, and we need you to do this role for us at the moment. And to be able to go out there and execute that role is really enjoyable."
Head coach Gary Stead confirmed that Williamson will not feature in this game, but the good news is Tim Southee and Lockie Ferguson are fit and available for this game. "Kane will be still recovering with the hopes of him playing in the third match, but we'll see how his recovery goes. He's going really strong at the moment," Phillips said.
