Glenn Phillips holds the ball up as he walks from the field having taken a fiver on Day three of the first cricket test match between New Zealand and Australia at the Basin Reserve. Photo: Photosport
A dramatic day three in Wellington has put the Black Caps in with a chance at an unlikely victory in the first test against Australia.
New Zealand has been set 369 for victory, and after losing three early wickets, are 111/3, needing 258 runs with Rachin Ravindra unbeaten on 56 and Daryl Mitchell on 12.
The Basin Reserve pitch offered plenty of turn for spinners, the Black Caps hero of day two coming to the party again, this time with the ball.
Glenn Phillips bagged a five wicket haul which saw the tourists bowled out for 164.
Backing up his fighting half century yesterday afternoon. Phillips claimed 5/45, among his scalps Usman Khawaja, Cameron Green, Mitchell Marsh, Travis Head and Alex Carey.
Phillips told TVNZ it was a pretty surreal moment to take five wickets in Wellington, believing any chance he would have had would come in the subcontinent.
"It's a dream come true. I've had a serious set of coaching staff help me over the years, and as a bowling unit we definitely stuck to the things we wanted to stick to, partnership bowling the whole way through."
Phillips took off in a celebratory run as Cameron Green flicked him to Will Young at short leg.
"Any celebration a six-year-old girl would do, that's me, the emotion, the way the crowd went up, it was just an unbelievable moment."
The all-rounder said they are very much in this test match.
"We've got to combat the situations out there now, obviously there is a bit of tun how we got about facing (Nathan) Lyon is going to be a challenge. But we have the time on the board to hopefully be able to pull this off."
Glenn Phillips has scored a half century and claimed five wickets in the first test against Australia. Photo: Photosport
Lyon would end up top scoring for Australia as nightwatchman with an innings of 42 to frustrate the Black Caps.
It was not all smooth sailing in the field for the hosts, with two dropped catches coming from Phillips' bowling, first Scott Kuggeleijn and then substitute fielder Henry Nicolls.
The Black Caps made a poor start to the chase as Tom Latham's lean run continued, lasting only 18 balls before Lyon had him caught behind for eight.
Williamson was then caught at leg slip off Lyon for just nine.
Next to go was Will Young, edging Travis Head to Steve Smith who took a one handed screamer at slip.
Mitchell came to the crease and looked well out of sorts, struggling with Lyon's line, meanwhile Rachin Ravindra was looking comfortable at the other end.
Lyon almost had Mitchell stumped, frustrating the right hander into a charge down the pitch, however Alex Carey fumbled the chance.
Ravindra stayed busy compiling runs, taking Head for a late six, and bringing up a half century with a powerful pull through backward square.
Day four gets underway at 11am tomorrow.
Matt Henry and Kane Williamson celebrate the wicket of Nathan Lyon on Day 3 of the 1st cricket test match between New Zealand and Australia at the Basin Reserve in Wellington. Photo: Photosport
