Watch: New Zealand part-time spinner Glenn Phillips ran through Australia’s batting order en route to his maiden Test five-for on the third day (March 2) of the Wellington Test.

With his wily off-spin, Phillips led New Zealand’s fightback after the hosts conceded a 204-run lead in the first innings. Australia resumed the day’s play on 13-2 in their second innings. Nightwatchman Nathan Lyon frustrated the visitors before being dismissed for a 46-ball 41 with his team at 53-3. After that, Phillips’s brilliance with the ball stole the show.

Phillips opened his account off the penultimate ball of the 27th over. He bowled a loopy delivery full and around off, drawing Usman Khawaja, batting then on 69-ball 28, out of the crease. Khawaja was foxed by the loop as it turned enough to beat his bat on pitching, and Tom Blundell was quick to have him stumped.

Next, in the 39th over, he neutralised the dangerous middle-order duo of Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh off consecutive deliveries. On the second ball, Head holed out to Scott Kuggeleijn, throwing away a 36-ball 29 start. Marsh followed his teammate off the very next ball, as he was caught at short leg off a full ball pitched on middle and leg. Australia slipped to 127-6. Alex Carey soon fell next cheaply with Phillips on the verge of a five-for.

Finally, Phillips achieved his landmark in the 45th over by dismissing first-innings centurion Cameron Green for 34.

It was a near encore of Marsh’s dismissal, with the only difference being the line of the ball. The all-rounder landed it full around off, drawing Green into a front-foot defence. It turned and took the edge of his bat, nestling in the hand of short-leg fielder Will Young. Australia were skittled out for 179.

Phillips’ 5-45 was the first five-wicket haul by a New Zealand spinner at home since 2008. Off-spinner Jeetan Patel and Daniel Vettori were the last to achieve this feat in December 2008 against West Indies.

In reply, New Zealand were 111-3 at stumps, with 258 runs still required to script a famous win.

Watch Glenn Phillips take maiden Test five-for against Australia

Phillips’ takes out Khawaja to open his account

Australia are 113/4 at Lunch on Day 3 in their second innings, as the BLACKCAPS look to take their next wicket after the stumping of Khawaja in the morning session 🔥🏏@BLACKCAPS v Australia: 1st Test | LIVE on DUKE and TVNZ+ pic.twitter.com/VQqhawB9pp

— TVNZ+ (@TVNZ) March 2, 2024

Phillips hands Australia double blow in an over

One straight after the other for Glenn Phillips who takes the wickets of Head and Marsh 🔥🏏@BLACKCAPS v Australia: 1st Test | LIVE on DUKE and TVNZ+ pic.twitter.com/scWomb0bTr

— TVNZ+ (@TVNZ) March 2, 2024

Cameron Green falls prey to Phillips’s leg-side trap as his fifth victim

Glenn Phillips has had an incredible innings with a maiden 5 wicket haul, finishing with 5-45 👏@BLACKCAPS v Australia: 1st Test | LIVE on DUKE and TVNZ+ pic.twitter.com/yC6Jip4x2R

— TVNZ+ (@TVNZ) March 2, 2024

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