Glenn Phillips’ five-for leaves Black Caps chasing 369 to beat Australia in first test

Saturday, 2 March 2024

You have to wonder what-if.

Off-spinner Glenn Phillips didn’t bowl once for the Black Caps in Australia’s first innings in the first test, even when their last pair of Cameron Green and Josh Hazlewood held court for more than two hours on the second morning.

Later that day, Nathan Lyon showed there was plenty on offer for spinners from the pitch at the Basin Reserve in Wellington, taking 4-43 with his offies as the visitors’ took control.

On day three on Saturday, Phillips bowled 16 overs unchanged from the Adelaide Rd end, taking his first five-wicket bag in tests – “a dream come true” – and career-best figures of 5-45 as Australia were dismissed for 164, giving the Black Caps a target of 369.

If New Zealand can somehow pull it off, it will be the 10th-highest chase in history and the largest at the Basin Reserve by 95 runs, after Pakistan’s successful pursuit of 274 in the 2003 Boxing Day test.

A stunning grab from Will Young at short leg gave Phillips his fifth wicket – that of Australia’s first innings star Green, who made 34 to go with his unbeaten 174.

He began his run of wickets by removing Usman Khawaja, who had resumed his innings at the start of play alongside nightwatcher Nathan Lyon, for 28.

The off-spinner lured the left-hander down the pitch and beat him, with Tom Blundell swiping off the bails before Khawaja could get his bat back behind the crease, having first banged it down just short.

Another left-hander, Travis Head, was the next to go, caught by Scott Kuggeleijn at long-off for 29. Mitch Marsh then went the very next ball, caught by Young at short leg.

Alex Carey left the hat-trick ball alone outside off, but was soon on his way for three when he hit the ball straight to short cover and Tim Southee, who had to be sharp to hold on to the chance.

Australia were 146-8 at that point, with Lyon having been the first to depart on Saturday, caught by Young off Matt Henry for 41.

Henry then had Pat Cummins caught by Tom Latham at second slip for eight and bowled Mitchell Starc for 12 as the Black Caps wrapped things up midway through the second session.

Phillips should have taken at least one more, but Kuggeleijn, racing around from long-on, and substitute fielder Henry Nicholls, at deep mid-wicket, both put catches down.

Nicholls was on the field for seamer Will O’Rourke, who pulled up midway through an over with what appeared to be a hamstring injury.

If he is unable to back up in the second test in Christchurch, which starts next Friday, the Black Caps will be severely undermanned.