New Zealand’s Glenn Phillips produced a moment of brilliance on Day 2 of the first Test against England, taking a spectacular catch that momentarily lifted the spirits of the hosts. Despite a tough day on the field, Phillips’ athleticism stood out as he dismissed Ollie Pope in England’s first innings with a jaw-dropping effort.
In the 53rd over, Pope slashed a delivery from Tim Southee fiercely towards the point region. Phillips, known for his exceptional fielding skills, launched himself to his right and plucked the ball out of the air in a gravity-defying dive. The commentators were left awestruck, calling it one of the finest catches of the season.
Nevertheless, this moment of greatness couldn’t mask New Zealand’s struggles in the field, as they let six catches slip throughout the day, losing vital opportunities to shift the game’s momentum. Among the missed chances were errors against key players such as Harry Brook and Ollie Pope, with Tom Latham failing to catch England’s captain Ben Stokes at short cover late in the day, adding to New Zealand’s frustrations.
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Debutant Nathan Smith, who claimed two crucial wickets in the morning session—removing Jacob Bethell (10) and Joe Root (0) in quick succession—could only watch as his good work was undone by poor catching. Reflecting on the missed opportunities, Smith commented, “We bowled well in patches, but you need to take those chances to stay in the contest.”
Glenn Phillips adds another unbelievable catch to his career resume! The 151-run Brook-Pope (77) partnership is broken. Watch LIVE in NZ on TVNZ DUKE and TVNZ+ #ENGvNZ pic.twitter.com/6qmSCdpa8u
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) November 29, 2024
England capitalized on New Zealand’s generosity, with Harry Brook anchoring a remarkable recovery. His unbeaten 132 showcased controlled aggression and composure, guiding England to 319 for 5 at stumps, just 29 runs behind New Zealand’s first-innings total of 348.
Harry Brook, supported by Ollie Pope’s gritty 77, built a game-changing 151-run partnership for the fifth wicket after England were in trouble at 71 for 4. Brook’s knock, featuring 10 fours and two sixes, marked his seventh Test century and took him past 2,000 career Test runs.
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Earlier in the day, New Zealand added 29 runs to their overnight score, with Glenn Phillips remaining unbeaten on 58. England’s bowlers, led by Brydon Carse (4-64) and Shoaib Bashir (4-69), wrapped up the innings efficiently. As Day 3 looms, England, with Brook and Stokes at the crease, look poised to build a significant lead that could leave New Zealand struggling to stay in the game.
