Phillips makes NZ history
AT A GLANCE
Auckland batsman Glenn Phillips made New Zealand cricket history in his side’s 71-run win against Northern Districts in Auckland yesterday.
The 20-year-old struck a century on the final day of the Plunket Shield match to become the first player to score a Twenty20, one-day and first class ton in the same New Zealand domestic season.
Phillips, who made his international T20 debut for the Black Caps against South Africa last month, struck 109 batting at No 3 to help the Aces setup the game.
After amassing 461 in their first innings, the home side declared their second innings on 202-4, holding an overall lead of 329.
At 163-3 in the 44th over, Northern was on track. However, led by spinner Tarun Nethula’s 5-84, they crumbled to be all out for 258.
The win propelled Auckland past Northern into second spot on the competition ladder with two rounds to play. Canterbury has a 19-point cushion on the Aces.
Auckland’s final two matches are against the Otago Volts and Central Stags, the two bottom teams in the competition.
The Central Stags had a golden opportunity to notch their first win of the competition in Napier yesterday, but a flurry of late wickets resulted in a draw with Wellington.
Chasing 200 to win from 39 overs, the Stags were still on track when the hardhitting Jesse Ryder was dismissed in the 34th over, leaving his side 165-4.
Most punters would have still fancied them when the equation was 28 runs off the last four overs with five wickets in hand.
However, they lost four wickets in 10 balls and suddenly it was the Firebirds sniffing an unlikely victory.
Central’s Ajaz Patel and Blair Tickner played out the final over and settled for a draw.
Canterbury and Otago had yesterday off after the former completed an innings and 119 run rout of the Dunedin-based side inside three days.