Ton-up Phillips stars for New Zealand against England / Photo: Glyn KIRK - AFP
Ton-up Phillips stars for New Zealand against England
Glenn Phillips's maiden Test century was the cornerstone of New Zealand's first-innings 391 all out as the Black Caps stepped up their fightback against England at the Oval on Thursday.
Phillips, who was last man out for 100, received excellent support from Kyle Jamieson (41) in an eighth-wicket partnership of 87 as the pair capitalised on wayward England bowling and sloppy fielding on the second day of the second Test.
Jamieson was dropped on 15 before all-rounder Jacob Bethell succeeded where the quicks had failed by bowling the towering paceman for this third wicket of the innings.
England survived a potentially awkward 10 minutes of batting before lunch, reaching 15-0 at the interval.
New Zealand, in a must-win clash at 1-0 down in a three-match series, resumed on their overnight 291-7.
Phillips, dubbed the "energiser bunny" by team-mate Daryl Mitchell, was 49 not out, having shared a sixth-wicket stand of 75 with Tom Blundell (51) which helped New Zealand recover from 107-4 after they lost the toss.
Phillips's top-edged pull early on Thursday completed a valuable 76-ball fifty with his 10th four.
Jamieson, as he had done during New Zealand's 115-run defeat in the first Test at Lord's a fortnight ago, attacked the bowling as he flayed Sonny Baker through cover-point.
Jamieson should have been out for 15 when his spliced swipe off Baker sailed gently to deep midwicket, only for Ben Duckett to drop a simple chance.
England took the new ball as soon as possible, but Jamieson quickly cover-drove Josh Tongue for four.
New Zealand dominated Thursday's first hour, scoring 74 runs in 12 overs, before Bethell ended Jamieson's 48-ball innings.
Stand-in England skipper Joe Root -- back leading the side after the hosts dropped captain Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson for breaking a team curfew following the first Test -- kept Jofra Archer waiting in the field until New Zealand were 388-8.
Phillips's single off Archer saw the all-rounder to a century, his first in his 19-Test career.
And with just last man Will O'Rourke for company, he then holed out off Matthew Fisher.
M.Parisi--GdR
