Glenn Phillips etched his name into New Zealand cricket history with a maiden Test century as the Black Caps tightened their grip in the second Test against England at The Oval on day two.The Kiwi all-rounder became only the third New Zealand batsman to score international centuries in all three formats of the game: Tests, ODIs and T20Is, joining the legendary former captain Brendon McCullum and a prolific opener Martin Guptill in an exclusive club.
| Batters | Test 100s | GO 100s | T20I 100s |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brendon McCullum | 12 | 5 | 2 |
| Martin Guptill | 3 | 18 | 2 |
| Glenn Phillips | 1 | 1 | 2 |
While New Zealand great Kane Williamson is the leading century maker for the Black Caps with a total of 48 centuries, he has never scored a T20I century, his highest score being 95 against India in 2020. Glenn Phillips century made him the 40th player in the world to score centuries in all three formats.
Glenn’s century helped New Zealand post a commanding total
Continuing the day unbeaten on 49, Phillips showed both patience and aggression to bring up his maiden Test hundred off 133 deliveries. His landmark knock helped New Zealand post a convincing first innings total of 391. Fast bowler Kyle Jamieson provided valuable support with a sharp 41, while England all-rounder Jacob Bethell closed the innings effectively, finishing with impressive figures of 3/26.In reply, England struggled to keep pace with the visitors. Opener Emilio Gay fought back with a calm 53, registering his second successive Test half-century. However, his dismissal swung the momentum firmly back in New Zealand’s favour.Seamer Matt Henry then produced a crucial spell during the evening session, batting in successive overs to remove stand-in captain Joe Root for 46 and Harry Brook for 24 via narrow lbw decisions. The double blow derailed England’s hopes of mounting a meaningful counter-attack.Debutants James Rew and Jordan Cox tried to shore up the innings with a partnership of 39, but New Zealand struck again late in the day. Will O’Rourke dismissed Rew for 24 shortly before the fall, leaving Cox unbeaten on 22 and England in a precarious position.At stumps on day two, England were 222/6, still trailing New Zealand by 169 runs, with the visitors firmly in control heading into day three.Short ratings: New Zealand 391 all out (Glenn Phillips 100, Kyle Jamieson 41; Jacob Bethell 3/26) lead England 222/6 (Emilio Gay 53, Joe Root 46; Matt Henry 2 wickets) by 169 runs.
