Phillips’ maiden Test century lifts New Zealand at Oval

Phillips’ maiden – Glenn Phillips scored his maiden Test century to help New Zealand post 391 against England at The Oval on Thursday, after resuming on 291-7. England’s hopes of removing the tail were disrupted by misplaced short-ball tactics and the absence of Jofra Archer for

LONDON — Glenn Phillips walked in already in the 90s on a warm, sunny morning at The Oval, and England could feel the moment turning.

When New Zealand resumed on 291-7, Phillips was the last man out and finished on an even 100. The Black Caps were bowled for 391 after Phillips’ innings ended, capping off a second morning that New Zealand would call “priceless.”

On a pitch where the tail was exposed and the new ball was approaching. England would have expected to squeeze out more than they did. England’s own plan to clean up the remaining wickets quickly ran into a problem: it relied too heavily on short balls. and it didn’t help that their most potent weapon. Jofra Archer. wasn’t available for every stretch of the session.

Archer had delivered a burst at the end of Wednesday—eight overs in a row that were described as venomous—but that sequence also came after he hadn’t played Test cricket since December. and the toll showed. On Thursday, England made 15 runs in three overs before lunch without loss, but the real damage arrived later.

Archer didn’t reappear until close to lunch, in the 19th over. By then, Phillips had moved to 97, and the duel that had fueled the first day shifted in a way England couldn’t fully control.

Phillips reached his first Test hundred with a couple of calm offerings against Archer—two runs and a single—followed by a congratulatory tap on the back from Archer. It was a small gesture after a big swing in momentum, one that New Zealand turned into a platform rather than a pause.

England’s short-ball tactics had allowed Phillips and tailender Kyle Jamieson to cash in. The pair added 74 runs together in the 12 overs in the first hour, pushing New Zealand past 350 and changing the shape of what England thought would be a chaseable second-innings total.

Jamieson had chances and needed them. Ben Duckett dropped him on 15, looking into the sun with his sunglasses on his cap. New Zealand’s tallest cricketer at 2.07 meters—6-foot-8—was also tonked twice on his helmet.

From 6 overnight, Jamieson struck six more boundaries, including a couple described as exquisite cover drives. He was eventually out for 41 off 48 balls—his highest Test score in six years—bowled by part-time spinner Jacob Bethell, who took a team-leading three wickets.

Jamieson’s departure ended an entertaining partnership with Phillips of 87 from 96 balls.

Phillips had resumed on 49 and brought up 50 off the day’s second delivery, producing a top edge over the wicketkeeper. Without Archer to duck at, Phillips punished wayward balls from Sonny Baker and Josh Tongue, and Bethell’s spin was hailed after just five overs of the new ball.

Phillips then moved beyond his earlier best: he passed his previous Test high of 87 against Bangladesh in 2023. He reached his hundred off 133 balls with 18 boundaries, following two centuries each in one-day internationals and Twenty20s.

As the innings closed, Matt Henry fell to Archer, and Phillips holed out to deep midwicket—leaving New Zealand with a score of 391 and England with plenty to reflect on after a morning that slipped away.

___

AP cricket:

Glenn Phillips maiden Test century New Zealand vs England The Oval Jofra Archer Kyle Jamieson Jacob Bethell Sonny Baker Josh Tongue Matt Henry