CricBengal.com | Sports Desk
New Zealand batter Glenn Phillips has rewritten the record books after producing a remarkable performance in the five-match T20I series against India. Phillips finished with 341 runs, becoming the highest run-scorer in a bilateral men’s T20I series and surpassing England’s Phil Salt, who previously held the record with 331 runs.
Phillips reached the milestone during the fifth and final T20I at Seddon Park in Hamilton on Sunday, November 1. His unbeaten 65 helped New Zealand chase down India’s target of 192 and complete a seven-wicket victory.
Phillips Surpasses Phil Salt’s Record
Before the series, England’s Phil Salt held the record for the most runs in a bilateral men’s T20I series. Salt had scored 331 runs against the West Indies in a five-match series in 2023.
Phillips went past that tally during his unbeaten innings in Hamilton and eventually finished the series with 341 runs, 10 more than Salt’s previous record.
Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan occupies third place on the all-time list with 316 runs against England in 2022. Estonia’s Sahil Chouhan scored 297 against Cyprus in 2024, while New Zealand’s Mark Chapman made 290 against Pakistan in 2023.
Four Fifty-Plus Scores in Five Matches
Phillips’ record-breaking achievement was built on remarkable consistency throughout the series.
His scores across the five matches were 82 not out, 70, 17, 107 and 65 not out.
He began the series with an unbeaten 82 before adding another 70 in the second match. Although he managed only 17 in the third game, Phillips returned to form in spectacular fashion in the fourth T20I.
At Eden Park in Auckland, he smashed 107 from just 49 deliveries, giving New Zealand a major boost. He followed that century with an unbeaten 65 in the final match to complete his record-breaking series.
Four of his five innings were fifty-plus scores, highlighting his consistency against India’s bowling attack.
Unbeaten Fifty Helps New Zealand Win the Final T20I
Phillips also played an important role in New Zealand’s victory in the final match.
Chasing India’s target of 192, New Zealand lost Finn Allen early but recovered through Tim Seifert and Daryl Mitchell. Seifert produced an outstanding 93, while Phillips remained unbeaten on 65 from 38 deliveries.
The hosts eventually reached 195 for three in 18 overs to win by seven wickets.
India had already secured the series by winning the opening three matches. New Zealand’s victories in the final two games reduced the margin, but India finished as series winners with a 3-2 result.
Phillips Named Player of the Series
Phillips’ outstanding contribution with the bat earned him the Player of the Series award.
His performances were central to New Zealand’s campaign, particularly during the final stages of the contest. The 107-run century in the fourth T20I and his unbeaten 65 in the final game proved especially important.
CricBengal Analysis
Scoring heavily across a five-match T20I series requires more than one outstanding innings. Phillips combined consistency with the ability to accelerate when his team needed it.
His scores of 82, 70, 107 and 65 in four separate matches underline the scale of his achievement. Although India won the series, Phillips emerged as one of its standout performers and finished with a new record for the most runs in a bilateral men’s T20I series.
Sources: Reuters · Times of India · The Tribune
Publisher: CricBengal.com
