Glenn Phillips etched his name into New Zealand cricket folklore on Thursday, hitting his maiden Test century on Day 2 of the second Test at The Oval. In doing so, the all-rounder became only the third New Zealand batter in history to record international centuries across all three formats of the men’s game, entering an elite club alongside Brendon McCullum and Martin Guptill. | ENG vs NZ, 2nd Test Scorecard |
Resuming on his overnight score of 49, Phillips played the anchor role brilliantly to shepherd the lower order, guiding the Black Caps to a highly competitive first-innings total of 391. The milestone arrived just before the lunch break on a warm, sunny morning in south London, putting New Zealand firmly back into a must-win Test match.
The Oval crowd was up on its feet, applauding what was a fighting effort from the all-rounder, who is still trying to make a mark in the longest format of the game.
BRAVING THE ARCHER FIRE
While Thursday brought the celebratory glory, the foundation of Glenn Phillips’s historic hundred was built on sheer, unadulterated grit during a chaotic, box-office final session on day one. Facing a revitalised Jofra Archer bowling with frightening, visceral pace in his comeback Test series, Phillips was subjected to an unrelenting barrage of short-pitched bowling.
In a bizarre but calculated tactical move, Phillips batted through the evening glare wearing sunglasses to combat the harsh sunlight reflecting directly over the sight-screen. The spectacles did little to shield him from Archer’s hostility; the fast bowler repeatedly struck Phillips on the finger and shoulder, even knocking the batsman flat onto his back with one particularly fierce bouncer.
In a moment that encapsulated his famous “energiser bunny” spirit, a bruised Phillips simply smiled, lay flat on the turf, and offered a cheeky thumbs-up to a staring Archer.
When play resumed on Thursday morning, England’s stand-in skipper Joe Root opted to hold Archer back, a decision that allowed Phillips and tail-ender Kyle Jamieson to launch a devastating counter-attack. The duo capitalised heavily on England’s wayward short-ball tactics, plundering 74 runs in the opening hour alone. Jamieson provided excellent support with a crucial 41, stitching together an 87-run partnership for the eighth wicket that took the game completely away from the hosts.
By the time Archer finally reappeared close to lunch, Phillips was on 97 and closing in on history. Fittingly, it was off the Somerset quick that the 29-year-old worked a couple of runs and a single to bring up his landmark, sparking ecstatic celebrations from the tourists’ balcony. Even Archer couldn’t help but offer a warm, congratulatory pat on the back to his adversary.
Phillips was eventually the last man out for an even 100, having smashed 18 boundaries in an unforgettable knock. Having already established himself as a certified white-ball destroyer with multiple T20I and ODI hundreds, his transition into a dependable Test match-winner is officially complete and it’s a welcome news for the BlackCaps, who will miss Kane Williamson. New Zealand may have arrived at The Oval with their backs against the wall, but Phillips’s stylishly shaded defiance has given them a massive foothold in the series.
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