WATCH: Glenn Phillips’ flying catch leaves Ollie Pope in shock during 1st Test match in Christchurch

New Zealand star Glenn Phillips was the star of the show during the second day of the opening Test against England. Phillips, was fielding in gully when he took the best catch of the year to dismiss Ollie Pope for 77. The incident in question happened in the 5th ball of the 53rd over of England’s first innings. 

Tim Southee bowled a short ball outside off-stump which Ollie Pope tried to cut away for four runs. Glenn Phillips dived to his right hand side and stuck his hand out and completed the catch in amazing fashion. Pope was left stunned as he was looking set to score yet another Test century. 

WATCH the video here:

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

Batting first New Zealand were all out for 348 in their first innings. Former skipper Kane Williamson scored 93 runs on his return to the game after two-month injury layoff. Glenn Phillips scored an unbeaten 58 off 87 balls with six boundaries and one six. Shoaib Bashir and Brydon Carse picked 4 wickets each for the visiting side. 

Joe Root scores duck in his 150th Test for England 

Matt Henry provided New Zealand the early wicket when he had the scalp of Zak Crawley for a duck. England’s opener batted for 12 balls before he was out LBW in the 5th ball of the fourth over. Nathan Smith then had the wicket of debutant Jacob Bethell for 10 caught behind by wicketkeeper Tom Blundell. 

Former England skipper Joe Root walked out to bat in his 150th Test and was bowled by Nathan Smith. The 34-year-old was looking to punch the ball through the covers but got an inside edge that hit his pad before going to hit the stumps. It was a huge moment for debutant Nathan Smith who was seen troubling the England batters with his nagging length. 

William O Rourke then got the big wicket of opener Ben Duckett for 46 to leave England at 71/4 in the 22nd over. Duckett scored 46 runs from 62 balls with six hits to the fence. Ollie Pope and Harry Brook then added 151 runs for the 5th wicket in 31 overs to bring the visitors back int the game.