Blackcaps batsman Glenn Phillips took man-of-the-match honours for Welsh Fire, steering his side to a three-wicket victory over London Spirit in England's 'The Hundred' competition at Cardiff on Thursday (NZ time).
After winning the toss and fielding first, the Fire might have been regretting their decision to send the Spirit in.
Thanks to a 45-ball 72 from Australian wicketkeeper-batsman Josh Inglis, the Spirit posted 163/5 from their 100 ball innings.
To make matters worse for the Fire, the Welsh side were reeling at 2/2 after just five balls when Phillips arrived at the crease.
And even losing partner, England international Ben Duckett, at 20/3, Phillips single handedly turned the match, launching a breathtaking assault on the Spirit's bowling attack.
From just 21 balls, Phillips struck a much needed half-century, containing three boundaries and five sixes, and kicking on to add 98 runs for the fourth wicket with Leus du Plooy.
All up, Phillips hit seven sixes and five boundaries by the time he was dismissed, caught at deep square leg, for 80 runs from just 35 balls, swinging the momentum of the match towards the Fire.
By the time he was out at 113/4 after 63 balls, the Fire's equation was 51 runs needed from 37, with an unbeaten 28 from Josh Cobb seeing the side home.
"When you are in a position where you feel like you are only going to lose, you go for broke and we managed to keep it going even though I got out," Phillips said post-match.
"We knew we were out of the competition before this game, but we are still entertainers and we want to perform for the crowd."
So far in the inaugural season of The Hundred, Phillips has hit 214 runs at an average of 35.66 from his eight innings, sitting third on the leading scorers list behind England internationals Liam Livingstone, and teammate Duckett.
The win keeps Phillips' Fire seventh on the table, above only the Spirit in the race to avoid the wooden spoon - albeit both sides are well short of finals contention.
