Phillips' maiden Test ton steers New Zealand to 391 against England at The Oval
Synopsis
Glenn Phillips' first Test hundred rescued New Zealand from a precarious overnight position and set up a dominant day at The Oval. With England six down and 169 runs adrift, New Zealand are firmly in the driving seat to level a series they lost at Lord's — and Phillips is at the centre of it.
Key Takeaways
Glenn Phillips scored his maiden Test century off 133 balls , hitting 18 fours , to anchor New Zealand's first innings.
New Zealand were bowled out for 391 after resuming on 291 for 7 on day two at The Oval .
Kyle Jamieson contributed 31 in an 87-run eighth-wicket stand with Phillips before being dismissed by Jacob Bethell .
England ended day two on 222 for 6 in 59 overs , trailing by 169 runs .
Matt Henry (2/57) dismissed Joe Root (46) and Harry Brook (24); Will O'Rourke (2/61) removed Emilio Gay (53) and James Rew (24).
New Zealand, who lost the first Test at Lord's , are well-placed to level the three-match series .
Glenn Phillips struck his first Test century off 133 balls and shared an 87-run eighth-wicket stand with Kyle Jamieson to power New Zealand to 391 in their first innings on the second day of the second Test at The Oval, London, on Thursday, 19 June. New Zealand's bowlers then made swift inroads, reducing England to 222 for 6 in 59 overs at stumps — leaving the hosts 169 runs in arrears and in a precarious position.
Phillips and Jamieson Frustrate England
New Zealand resumed the morning session at 291 for 7, and England's hopes of a quick finish were immediately undermined by their own fielding lapses. Ben Duckett shelled a straightforward chance to dismiss Kyle Jamieson on just 15 in the third over, a miss that proved costly. England's decision to persist with a short-ball strategy also failed to yield dividends, with part-time spinner Jacob Bethell being handed the new ball after just five overs, while pace spearhead Jofra Archer was not introduced until the 15th over.
Jamieson capitalised on his early reprieve, contributing a brisk 31 as the pair added 87 runs from 96 balls in an increasingly frustrating partnership for the hosts. Bethell — who had also provided a breakthrough in the evening session on day one — eventually bowled Jamieson in the over after drinks. Matt Henry departed off the very next delivery, and Phillips, who had survived Archer's bouncer barrage late on day one, fell shortly after as the last wicket. He hit 18 fours en route to his maiden Test hundred before England finally wrapped up the New Zealand innings for 391.
England's Reply Unravels
England's response began with promise. Opener Emilio Gay posted a second consecutive Test half-century, scoring 53 off 114 balls, only to fall two balls after reaching the landmark as New Zealand's bowlers worked through the top order. Stand-in skipper Joe Root contributed 46 before being dismissed by Matt Henry, who also removed Harry Brook for 24. Henry finished the day with figures of 2 for 57.
Will O'Rourke provided the other twin blows, dismissing Gay and then wicketkeeper-batter James Rew for 24 late in the day to finish with 2 for 61. A 39-run stand between debutants James Rew and Jordan Cox had briefly offered England stability, but O'Rourke's late strike left England six down and in serious trouble at stumps.
Series Context
New Zealand lost the first Test at Lord's and now hold a commanding position to level the three-match series. With England 169 runs behind and only four wickets in hand, the Black Caps will be targeting a significant first-innings lead when play resumes. The result of this match will determine whether the series goes into a decider.
What to Watch on Day Three
England will need a substantial lower-order recovery to avoid the follow-on threat and keep the match alive. The performance of Jordan Cox and the tail will be critical. New Zealand's pace trio of Henry, O'Rourke, and the returning threat of their attack will look to complete the rout in the first session of day three.
Point of View
Adding 72 more runs to New Zealand's total. With the series level at 0-1 and England now six down in their first reply, the Bazball philosophy faces a stern examination from a New Zealand side that has quietly built one of the more effective pace attacks in world cricket.
NationPress
4 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many runs did Glenn Phillips score in the second Test at The Oval?
Glenn Phillips scored a century — his first in Test cricket — off 133 balls, hitting 18 fours. He was the last New Zealand wicket to fall as the Black Caps were dismissed for 391.
What is England's score at the end of day two at The Oval?
England ended day two of the second Test at 222 for 6 in 59 overs, trailing New Zealand's first-innings total of 391 by 169 runs.
Who took wickets for New Zealand against England on day two?
Matt Henry took 2 wickets for 57 runs, dismissing Joe Root (46) and Harry Brook (24). Will O'Rourke also claimed 2 wickets for 61 runs, removing Emilio Gay (53) and James Rew (24).
What is the current state of the New Zealand vs England Test series?
New Zealand lost the first Test at Lord's and trail 0-1 in the three-match series. Their strong position at The Oval — with England six down and 169 runs behind — gives them a genuine opportunity to level the series.
Why did England struggle to dismiss New Zealand quickly on day two?
England dropped a key chance to remove Kyle Jamieson on 15, and their decision to persist with a short-ball strategy while delaying Jofra Archer's introduction until the 15th over allowed Phillips and Jamieson to extend their partnership to 87 runs. Part-time spinner Jacob Bethell was handed the new ball after just five overs.
