Leaving Kane Williamson behind: Glenn Phillips smashes maiden ton vs England to join rare all-format century club
Leaving Kane Williamson behind: Glenn Phillips smashes maiden ton vs England to join rare all-format century club originally appeared on Cricket News.
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KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Glenn Phillips becomes the third New Zealand batter to score centuries in all formats.
- His maiden Test hundred helps New Zealand post a commanding 391 in the first innings.
- England slumped to 222 for 6 at stumps, trailing by 169 runs on Day 2.
Phillips etches his name in New Zealand cricket history
Glenn Phillips wrote his name into New Zealand’s record books on Day 2 of the second Test against England at The Oval by scoring his maiden Test hundred and helping the Black Caps tighten their grip on a match they now control comfortably.
With this innings, Phillips became only the third New Zealand batter to register international centuries across all three formats, Tests, ODIs and T20Is, joining former captain Brendon McCullum and prolific opener Martin Guptill in a very select group.
It is worth noting that Kane Williamson, despite being New Zealand’s all-time leading century-maker with 48 hundreds to his name, never managed a T20I century in his career, with his best score in the format standing at 95 against India back in 2020.
Phillips’ achievement also places him as the 35th player globally to have scored a century in all three formats of international cricket.
Phillips dedicates his ton to his late father, Roland
Phillips completed his century in 133 deliveries and riding on his good form, the Kiwis posted a strong first-innings total of 391. Kyle Jamieson chipped in with a determined 41 lower down the order, while England’s young spinner Jacob Bethell did the bulk of the damage, finishing with three wickets for 26 runs to eventually wrap up the New Zealand innings.
“It’s the anniversary of my dad’s passing tomorrow,” Phillips said. “Hopefully, with our boys doing their thing, maybe I’m not going to be needed tomorrow. But today is close enough for the moment to matter, and he’s been a big role in my life. I know he would have loved to be here to see that, and Test cricket was his favourite format… I know he’s watching in some station.”
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The Phillips-Archer duel that stole the show
The most compelling part of the innings was Phillips’s prolonged battle with Jofra Archer, who repeatedly targeted him with bouncers aimed at the throat. Phillips swayed and ducked his way through the assault, later admitting the contest felt strangely familiar.
“We’ve actually had one of those duels before, six or seven years back in New Zealand, and he pretty much hit me in the exact same spots all over,” Phillips said. “He bowls with great heat, great accuracy, and he just kept coming back… Obviously, it was a thrilling contest for the crowd to see as well, and sometimes you’ve just got to enjoy it, laugh, and hope for the best.”
What makes the achievement even more notable is that Phillips had not played competitive cricket in six weeks heading into this series, after he was dropped by Gujarat Titans midway through the IPL.
“I still had to be prepared to play, but we were very, very lucky at Gujarat with the amount of facilities that we had,” he said. “[I was] not necessarily training red-ball cricket per se, but having that same mindset of being still, trying to keep my head as still as possible, and play the ball as late as possible, under my eyes. Definitely, there was time to be able to have those sorts of nets sessions, do my throwdowns.
“We were very spoiled for choice over there with the number of facilities and people that we had on board… It’s just a matter of trying to get used to that red ball when you get over here, and obviously the Dukes is always slightly different [to the Kookaburra]. For me, it was then about making that adjustment when we got to Lord’s, trying to adjust as quick as possible.”
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England’s top order wobbles in reply
England’s response began with promise, as opener Emilio Gay compiled a composed 53 to register back-to-back Test half-centuries. However, his dismissal proved to be a turning point, swinging momentum firmly back towards the visitors.
Seamer Matt Henry then produced a telling burst during the evening session, removing stand-in captain Joe Root for 46 and Harry Brook for 24 in consecutive overs. Both fell to tight lbw decisions that effectively ended any hopes of a sustained England fightback.
The Three Lions closed Day 2 on 222 for 6, still 169 runs adrift of New Zealand’s first-innings total. With six wickets already down and the tail in sight, New Zealand head into Day 3 firmly in the driving seat of this contest at The Oval.
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