New Delhi: New Zealand allrounder Glenn Phillips has established himself as one of the key players for the New Zealand national side and he continues to add more weight to the fact with his heroics every now and then. As if his crucial half-century for the Kiwis, against England during the first innings of the ongoing Christchurch Test wasn’t enough, he displayed magic on the field by taking an unbelievable catch on Day 2 (Friday).
Phillips and his side were dealing with the revival of England as the team was being carried by Ollie Pope and Harry Brook after a dismal morning session. The two batters started solidifying England from the second session onwards and showed no signs of any weaknesses, firmly taking on the Kiwi bowlers and being highly resilient. However, when their fifth-wicket partnership reached 150, Pope was sent packing by Tim Southee who was helped by a “Superman” type flying Phillips.
It was the 53rd over of England’s first innings when the Blackcaps made a bowling change and Southee rolled his arm over. With the second delivery, he offered width and Pope shaped it to cut. The contact was good and Pope didn’t bother to keep it down. By the looks of it, he might have thought that the ball was headed towards the fence but Phillips stood in the way. He flew like a bird to his right at the gully and plucked it out of thin air.
Acrobatics were on display as Phillips was horizontal and parallel to the ground while taking the one-handed screamer which brought the partnership to an end as Pope departed on a well-made 77 off 98 balls (8 fours).
Here’s the one-handed catch by Phillips –
Glenn Phillips adds another unbelievable catch to his career resume! The 151-run Brook-Pope (77) partnership is broken. Watch LIVE in NZ on TVNZ DUKE and TVNZ+ #ENGvNZ pic.twitter.com/6qmSCdpa8u
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) November 29, 2024
Harry Brook slams 7th Test ton
Pope’s compatriot Harry Brook displayed extreme carefulness as he tackled the Kiwi bowlers quite well and went on to slam the seventh century of his international Test career. Brook was later joined by skipper Ben Stokes as England look set to surpass the first-innings score of New Zealand which was 348. England star batter Joe Root was expected to make a worthy contribution but was dismissed by the debutant Nathan Smith for a four-ball duck.
The Christchurch crowd rises to Harry Brook.
A SEVENTH Test match century! 💯 pic.twitter.com/i6bs4ok6eO
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) November 29, 2024
The visitors were 317/5 after 73 overs as Stumps closed in on Day 2 with England trailing only by 31 runs. If both batters continue the similar work, momentum might shift from New Zealand’s favour to England’s but they have just got five wickets remaining and the Kiwi bowlers might wrap them up early on Day 3’s morning to refrain England from going any further.
Glenn Phillips was up to the usuals as he plucked Ollie Pope out of thin air during the final session of the second day in Christchurch. Watch his acrobatic stuff from the first Test which slowed down England’s revival. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
