On Wednesday, for the first time in this World Cup, they were put through a testing period by the Afghanistan bowlers, especially their spinners. Without\u00a0Kane Williamson<\/a>, New Zealand didn\u2019t flinch when put under pressure. Instead, in Glenn Phillips \u2013 a batsman who has a history of struggling against spinners \u2013 and Tom Latham, they found the heroes who rescued them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Also Read:<\/strong> ICC World Cup 2023: Who\u2019ll win New Zealand vs Afghanistan match? Prediction, fantasy team, pitch report and more<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Phillips\u2019 batting in these conditions was a cause of concern not so long ago. During the tour of India earlier this year and at the IPL, all it needed to dismiss him was someone who could get the ball to spin. Not employing the sweep \u2013 the go-to shot for most overseas batsmen who are not comfortable using their feet \u2013 Phillips had to stick to his strength of playing from the crease. It is something former West Indies captain Ramnaresh Sarwan had suggested to him during his stint with Jamaica Tallawahs in the Caribbean Premier League.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI guess the way a lot of boys play over here \u2013 sweeping really well and reverse-sweeping really well \u2013 but unfortunately I don\u2019t have that quite in my gameplan or to the level I\u2019d be happy to use it consistently in a match. So, for me, it\u2019s about sticking to my strengths: play from the crease and I do have power. But also the beauty of batting at No.6 is that you have the opportunity to soak pressure or mount pressure [on the opposition], depending on the time you come in. So, [it\u2019s] about being able to flip between the two depending on what the team needs,\u201d Phillips, who picked up the Player of the Match award, said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thanks to the 144-run stand between Latham and Phillips for the fifth wicket, New Zealand piled 288\/6, a target that proved way beyond Afghanistan\u2019s reach as they were bowled out for 139 with Lockie Ferguson and Santner picking up three wickets each. It was the ideal performance that the Kiwis needed before they run into India\u2019s batting line-up that looks red hot at the moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cObviously, it\u2019s nice to be in this position to lead into this (India) game, but we know it\u2019s such a long tournament and one loss isn\u2019t going to hurt you if you win the rest \u2013 or you kind of look at that at the start. So, we know they\u2019re playing some very good cricket. I think the Powerplay with the ball is going to be very important,\u201d the left-arm spinner said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Striking in the Powerplay has been New Zealand\u2019s biggest strength with the ball. As Trent Boult<\/a> and Matt Henry showed here on an unresponsive track, they are capable of getting the ball to swing and seam. And once they got an opening, Ferguson took over, providing the knockout blows before Santner chipped in at the end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Cricket](\"https:\/\/totalcric.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/104533859-1024x576.webp\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nProfessional display<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n