If fielding highlights had a recurring theme, Glenn Phillips would feature in most chapters. In Vadodara on Sunday, during the first ODI between India and New Zealand, Phillips came close to adding another moment to that collection, nearly pulling off a catch that would have removed Shubman Gill early in the chase.The moment came in the eighth over of India’s innings. Gill, batting on eight, attempted a cut shot off the fourth ball of Zak Foulkes’ over. The delivery was back of a length and outside the off stump. Gill stayed back and hit the ball hard towards the backward point region. Phillips moved quickly to his left, jumped and stretched out his left hand while airborne. He almost completed the catch but closed his palm a fraction early, and the ball fell short. The effort surprised many, and Virat Kohli was seen reacting from the dressing room.Earlier, New Zealand posted 300 for 8 in their allotted overs after choosing to bat first in the opening ODI in Vadodara.Daryl Mitchell anchored the innings with 84 off 71 balls, hitting five fours and three sixes. His knock helped New Zealand recover after losing wickets in the middle overs. Mitchell came in after a solid opening stand between Devon Conway and Henry Nicholls.Conway scored 56 off 67 balls, including six fours and a six, while Nicholls made 62 off 69 deliveries with eight fours. The pair added 117 runs for the first wicket and kept India in check for the first 21 overs.India struck back through Harshit Rana, whose second spell changed the course of the innings. Rana finished with figures of 2 for 65, including two wickets in a spell of 2 overs for 13 runs. From 117 without loss in the 22nd over, New Zealand slipped to 198 for five by the 38th.Mitchell then built partnerships to steady the innings. Debutant Kristian Clarke provided support towards the end, scoring an unbeaten 24 off 17 balls, which included three fours, as New Zealand crossed the 300-run mark.
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