Glenn Phillips gave New Zealand a major lift in the ENG vs NZ second Test at The Oval, scoring his maiden Test century on Day 2 and pushing the visitors to 391 in their first innings. His 100 came at a crucial stage, after New Zealand had needed lower-order runs to build pressure on England in a must-win contest.
Phillips resumed on 49 and turned a promising start into a landmark innings under pressure. The hundred also placed him in rare company, making him only the third New Zealand men's batter to score international centuries in Tests, ODIs and T20Is, after Brendon McCullum and Martin Guptill.
Glenn Phillips Joins An Elite List Of Kiwi Batters
The right-hander's innings stood out for both timing and toughness. On Day 1, Phillips had faced a hostile spell from Jofra Archer, who repeatedly tested
him with short-pitched bowling. Phillips was struck on the body during that passage but stayed in the contest, even batting with sunglasses because of the difficult evening glare at The Oval.
New Zealand made the most of Phillips' resilience on the second morning. With Archer not used immediately by stand-in England captain Joe Root, Phillips and Kyle Jamieson counter-attacked against England's short-ball plans. Their stand changed the rhythm of the innings and helped New Zealand move from a vulnerable position to a strong total.
Jamieson's 41 proved important as the pair added 87 runs for the eighth wicket. Phillips, meanwhile, kept finding the boundary and protected the tail when required. He reached his century close to lunch, completing the milestone against Archer before being dismissed as New Zealand's final wicket for exactly 100.
His knock included 18 fours and gave New Zealand a significant platform in the Test. For Phillips, who has long been recognised as an explosive white-ball batter and athletic fielder, the innings was an important statement in the longest format.
New Zealand Batters With Centuries In All Three Formats
| Player | Achievement |
|---|---|
| Brendon McCullum | Scored centuries in Tests, ODIs and T20Is |
| Martin Guptill | Scored centuries in Tests, ODIs and T20Is |
| Glenn Phillips | Became the third New Zealand men's batter to complete the feat |
Phillips' hundred was more than a personal landmark. It gave New Zealand control of an important phase in the match and underlined his growing value as a multi-format player. With senior players not always available, performances like this could make him a bigger part of New Zealand's Test plans.
