NZ vs AUS New Zealand needs 258 runs to win the first Test against Australia with seven wickets remaining. The Kiwi team came out to chase the huge target of 369 runs in the match. Glenn Phillips bowled brilliantly and took five wickets and played an important role in Australia being all out for only 164 runs in the second innings.
If New Zealand has to beat Australia in the Wellington Test, it will have to create history. The Kiwi team will have to successfully chase its biggest target in Test cricket to take a 1-0 lead in the series.
New Zealand have scored more than 300 only twice in Test cricket, one of which came against Pakistan in Christchurch in 1994. However, in the current Test against Australia, New Zealand cannot be considered completely out of the match. The host team is chasing the target of 369 runs and till stumps on the third day, it has scored 111 runs after losing 3 wickets in 41 overs.
New Zealand has a chance to create history
New Zealand needs 258 runs to win the first Test with seven wickets remaining. Rachin Ravindra and Darryl Mitchell have a big responsibility on their shoulders. The pair made an unbeaten partnership of 52 runs till stumps for the fourth wicket. Australia had lost three wickets for New Zealand’s 59 runs. Ravindra, who was out without opening the account in the first innings, improved in the second innings and remained unbeaten after scoring 56 runs.
At the same time, Mitchell thought it best not to take any risk and had faith in supporting Ravindra. Nathan Lyon put pressure on New Zealand by taking the wickets of Tom Latham (8) and Kane Williamson (9). Travis Head made Will Young (15) his victim. Then the Ravindra-Mitchell pair revived the hopes of the host team and kept them in the match.
Glenn Phillips’ deadly bowling
The New Zealand team, which took upon itself the burden of a lead of 204 in the first innings, was struggling with problems. But then Glenn Phillips decided that his team should remain in the match. Phillips took five wickets for 45 runs including four maidens in 16 overs. Phillips became the first Kiwi spinner since Jeetan Patel in 2008 to take five wickets in an innings on home soil.
Glenn Phillips on 🔥 today pic.twitter.com/liiGkEKv8q
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) March 2, 2024This was the first time that Glenn Phillips took five wickets in an innings. Thanks to his brilliant spell, New Zealand bowled out Australia for only 164 runs in the second innings. Matt Henry took three wickets while captain Tim Southee took two wickets.
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