Watch: Glenn Phillips took a stunning, one-handed reflex catch off his own bowling in the Plunket Shield on March 8, diving to his right with lightning-fast reaction speed.
Bowling for Otago in New Zealand’s first class competition, Phillips’s catch came when Canterbury were extending their advantage in the second innings. Opening batter Mitch Hay was on 98, closing in on his maiden first-class hundred with his side 182-1.
Into the 40th over, Phillips floated one in full from around the wicket, putting plenty of loop on the ball and enticing Hay to come down the pitch. Hay took the bait, skipping to the pitch of the ball looking to pick up a boundary down the ground. Despite managing to get the ball well to the right of Phillips, striking it powerfully towards long on, Phillips pulled off a remarkable catch worthy of a man who keeps wicket for his side when required.
Phillips set himself for the catch as soon as Hay made contact with the ball, planting his feet in preparation for the catching opportunity. Picking up the ball immediately, he dived full length with his body parallel to the ground and arm outstretched. Even though the ball was wide enough not to be on the cut strip, Phillips just managed to cling onto the ball and fell to the ground with it safely in his grasp.
Hay could do nothing but drag himself off the field, two runs short of his milestone. Phillips went on to take the wicket of the other set batter, Cole McConchie, who was on 83 when Phillips snared him eight overs later.
Canterbury got themselves into a dominant position in the match, registering a first innings lead of over a hundred and declaring to set Otago a target of 470. But they were unable to force a victory – again, largely thanks to Phillips.
The all-rounder was their nemesis in the match, scoring 147 to bat out the draw. Canterbury finished an agonising two wickets short of victory.
Watch: Glenn Phillips takes stunning reflex caught and bowled below
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