New Zealand vs Australia: Glenn Phillips takes maiden Test five-for as Black Caps battle back on day three in Wellington
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New Zealand closed day three of the first Test against Australia on 111-3, chasing 369 to win, keeping alive their slim hopes of victory in the series opener.
Glenn Phillips (5-45) took a maiden Test five-for and Matt Henry chipped in with 3-36 to bowl Australia out for 164 in their second innings, giving the Black Caps a sniff.
Phillips, the off-spinner in just his sixth Test, found himself on a hat-trick after removing Travis Head for 29 and dismissing Mitchell Marsh next ball.
First-innings centurion Cameron Green contributed a further 34 with the bat for Australia, while nightwatchman Nathan Lyon was the unlikely top scorer, eventually falling on 41 with a first Test fifty in sight.
As New Zealand set about their record run-chase in Tests, the hosts lost Tom Latham (8) and Kane Williamson (9) cheaply to Lyon, before part-time spinner Head removed Will Young for 15 – the Black Caps reeling at 59-3.
But a classy, unbeaten 56 from Rachin Ravindra, supported in an unbroken fourth-wicket partnership of 52 by Daryl Mitchell (12no), saw New Zealand survive through to stumps without further loss.
Rachin Ravindra brought up his first Test fifty against Australia on day three in Wellington
New Zealand’s highest successful fourth-innings run chase in their history is 324 – against Pakistan at Christchurch in 1994. Their current target of 369 would not only eclipse that but it would represent the 10th-highest chase in Test history.
Phillips told reporters after the day’s play: “I definitely think we’ve got the time on our hands to be able to pull this off.
“I understand we’ve got to combat the situations that are out there. Obviously there’s a bit of turn, so it’s a matter of how we go about combating Lyon. The way their big fast bowlers bowl as well is going to be a challenge.”
Australia, meanwhile, are confident of closing things out to take a 1-0 lead in the series going into the second and final Test in Christchurch.
“Credit where credit’s due, [Rachin] played very well there,” Lyon said. “But I know if we can come out here and just do our job, and put the pressure on and challenge their defence for long periods of time, hopefully we’ll crack them.”
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