T20 World Cup: Glenn Phillips backs New Zealand top order after leading late charge against Namibia

Glenn Philips and Jimmy Need, sham's game-changing partnership on a tricky surface, helped New Zealand beat Namibia by 52 runs in a Super 12 game in Sharjah on Friday and stay on course for a semifinal berth in the T20 World Cup

Phillips top scored for the New Zealanders with 39 runs as they went on to notch up a 52-run win to retain second place in Group 2 ahead of their final Super 12 match against Afghanistan on Monday "For us, having 160 was always the goal in mind, so it was how can we go about our work to be able to take the most off the last few overs," said Phillips.

'In situations like this, when we lose a couple of early ones, and we get into a little, a bit of a pickle, (we know) that our middle order can always bring it back, if we need to

T20 World Cup: Glenn Phillips backs New Zealand top order after leading late charge against Namibia

Glenn Philips and Jimmy Need, sham's game-changing partnership on a tricky surface, helped New Zealand beat Namibia by 52 runs in a Super 12 game in Sharjah on Friday and stay on course for a semifinal berth in the T20 World Cup

Phillips top scored for the New Zealanders with 39 runs as they went on to notch up a 52-run win to retain second place in Group 2 ahead of their final Super 12 match against Afghanistan on Monday

"For us, having 160 was always the goal in mind, so it was how can we go about our work to be able to take the most off the last few overs," said Phillips.

"In situations like this, when we lose a couple of early ones, and we get into a little, a bit of a pickle, (we know) that our middle order can always bring it back, if we need to.

"Our top order is going to fire fully at some point and, as we've already seen against India, we didn't need to get involved in it

"For now it's just take one game at a time, and reassess when we go into the middle."

Phillips and Need, sham took the Namibian attack to the cleaners and propelled New Zealand past 150 which looked unlikely at one stage. New Zealand were struggling at 87/4, but brutal hitting by Phillips and Need, sham ensured that the Kiwis were back in the gamete duo added 76 runs for the unbroken fifth wicket in just 36 balls. While Phillips hammered one four and three sixes, Need, sham struck one boundary and two maximums. Courtesy of Phillips and Need, sham, the Kiwis amassed 53 runs in the last three overs Glenn Philips and Jimmy Need, sham's game-changing partnership on a tricky surface helped New Zealand beat Namibia by 52 runs in a Super 12 game in Sharjah on Friday and stay on course for a semifinal berth in the T20 World Cup Phillips top scored for the New Zealanders with 39 runs as they went on to notch up a 52-run win to retain second place in Group 2 ahead of their final Super 12 match against Afghanistan on Monday

"For us, having 160 was always the goal in mind, so it was how can we go about our work to be able to take the most off the last few overs," said Phillips "In situations like this, when we lose, a couple of early ones, and we get into a little, a bit of a pickle, (we know) that our middle order can always bring it back, if we need to

"Our top order is going to fire fully at some point and, as we've already seen against India, we didn't need to get involved in it, "For now it's just take one game at a time and reassess when we go into the middle."

Phillips and Need, sham took the Namibian attack to the cleaners and propelled New Zealand past 150 which looked unlikely at one stage. New Zealand were struggling at 87/4, but brutal hitting by Phillips and Need, sham ensured that the Kiwis were back in the gamete duo added 76 runs for the unbroken fifth wicket in just 36 balls. While Phillips hammered one four and three sixes, Need, sham struck one boundary and two maximums. Courtesy of Phillips and Need, sham, the Kiwis amassed 53 runs in the last three overs