ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Watch - Glenn Phillips takes gravity-defying catch to dismiss Mohammad Rizwan

It was a normal day at work for the 28-year-old New Zealand National Cricket Team all-rounder Glenn Phillips as he took an absolutely unbelievable catch to dismiss the Pakistan National Cricket Team skipper Mohammad Rizwan.

Glenn Phillips stunned the cricket world with his catch in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 opener at the National Stadium in Karachi on Wednesday, February 19.

Also Read: ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Revealed - Why Fakhar Zaman didn’t open against New Zealand?

Glenn Phillips shines with bat and on the field

In the first innings of the match, Phillips played an insane innings for his team and guided them to a great total of 320 runs.

He smashed a quickfire fifty and finished his innings with 61 runs off 39 balls, with 3 fours and 4 sixes. Phillips built a stunning 125-run partnership with Tom Latham that pushed Pakistan on the back foot.

Meanwhile, in the second innings, Glenn Phillips once again looked sensational on the field. He showcased a high-class fielding and frustrated the Pakistan batters.

On the last ball of the 10th over, he took a one-handed stunner to send back Mohammad Rizwan. William O'Rourke bowled a short and wide ball to Mohammad Rizwan, who went hard on the cut but didn't get the desired height.

Meanwhile, Glenn Phillips saw the ball coming towards him, and he threw himself in the air to the left, stuck his left hand, and plucked the ball with one hand behind the body.

The catch picked by the Kiwi star was so good that many declared it one of the greatest catches in cricket history. Talking about Rizwan, he was back in the hut after scoring 3 runs off 14 balls.

ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Watch - Glenn Phillips Takes Unreal Catch To Dismiss Mohammad Rizwan

Glenn Phillips is something else...pic.twitter.com/H8ZbSeVCIx

— CricketGully (@thecricketgully) February 19, 2025

What Happened in the First-Ever ICC Champions Trophy Match Between New Zealand and Pakistan?

Pakistan and New Zealand have gone head-to-head with each other three times in the ICC Champions Trophy, in 2000, 2006, and 2009, with the Black Caps winning all the matches.

The first-ever match between the teams in the ICC Champions Trophy, which was earlier known as the KnockOut Tournament, took place in 2000.

It was the semi-final match in Nairobi, which saw New Zealand clinch a thrilling four-wicket victory over Pakistan with six balls to spare to book their place in the final.

Pakistan elected to bat first in the match, and they had a strong start, but the lack of combined effort meant that they could only score 252 runs in 49.2 overs before getting bowled out.

The innings of the Men In Green revolved around Saeed Anwar’s sensational century (104 off 115 balls) that featured 16 boundaries. Abdul Razzaq (48 off 49) and Wasim Akram (34 off 35) provided valuable contributions, but the fall of wickets at regular intervals didn't let Moin Khan's team post a big score.

For New Zealand, Shayne O’Connor emerged as the hero in the innings as he produced a sensational spell of 5/46, dismantling Pakistan’s middle and lower order. Nathan Astle (2/50), Geoff Allott (1/57), and Chris Harris (1/36) provided him with good support.

Chasing 253, New Zealand had a poor start, losing Craig Spearman (1) and captain Stephen Fleming (12) early to Azhar Mahmood, who finished with 4/65. However, a terrific 87-run knock by Roger Twose turned the game in New Zealand’s favor. Craig McMillan (51 off 56)* and Scott Styris (28 off 31)* then held their nerves in the final overs to steer their team to victory.