Black Caps’ test hopeful Glenn Phillips hits 61 in first Plunket Shield match for Otago

Black Caps’ test hopeful Glenn Phillips showed his class in his Otago Plunket Shield debut, but was outshone by younger brother Dale.

Playing his first Shield match for Otago after switching from Auckland in the off-season, Phillips struck 61 from 67 balls against Wellington at Dunedin’s University Oval on Sunday.

The hard-hitting right-hander, who played his lone test against Australia at the SCG in January 2020, could be a possible top order option for the Black Caps’ two-match test series against Sri Lanka, starting in Christchurch on March 9.

Phillips hasn’t been spotted in the Plunket Shield yet for Otago due to his Black Caps’ white ball commitments prior to Christmas.

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Henry Nicholls, who was 18 not out at stumps in New Zealand’s second innings against England on Sunday, has had a rough recent run, scoring just 123 runs from his previous nine innings before that at 13.7. Nicholls hasn’t posted a test half-century or ton in over a year – last doing so against South Africa in the first test at Hagley last February where he scored 105.

Should Nicholls stumble in the second innings, New Zealand could look at another option at four or five for the Sri Lankan series with Phillips a prime candidate.

Will Young, who was handed an opportunity at the Basin with New Zealand playing an extra batter, had a test to forget, scoring two and eight.

Phillips’ 61 against Wellington was overshadowed by younger brother Dale, who top-scored for Otago with 87.

Wellington still find themselves on top after day two, leading by 108 runs in the second innings with 10 wickets in hand.

Otago was dismissed for 287 in their first innings in response to Wellington’s 368.

Highly-touted youngster Muhammad Abbas, who lit up the under-19 men’s nationals earlier this summer, scoring 255 runs from five innings, including two centuries, impressed on his first-class debut.

Abbas, the son of former Pakistan first-class player Azhar Abbas, who also played for Auckland and Wellington, top-scored for the Firebirds with 79, batting at six, hitting eight fours and four sixes.

Wellington were 27-0 at stumps on day two.

Plunket Shield leaders Canterbury lead Northern Districts by 26 runs in the first innings in Hamilton with three wickets in hand.

Black Caps legspinner Ish Sodhi, in his first Shield match for Canterbury, frustrated his former Northern side with the bat, getting through to 65 not out at stumps. Sodhi joined Canterbury after 10 seasons with Northern this summer, having lived in Christchurch for the past few years.

He continued his pleasing batting from the Black Caps’ tour of Pakistan, where he scored 65 in the first test, building decent partnerships with Henry Shipley (42) and Fraser Sheat, who was unbeaten on 33 at stumps.

Sodhi will be eyeing a maiden first-class ton on Monday with his highest score 82 not out.

Canterbury opener Rhys Mariu produced an encouraging display on first-class debut, contributing 68 before he nicked through to wicketkeeper Tim Seifert off Brett Hampton, who took four wickets.

Central’s match against Auckland at Napier’s McLean Park was called off due to the effects of Cyclone Gabrielle. A decision on whether the match will be rescheduled or abandoned is pending.

AT A GLANCE:

Plunket Shield round five: After day two:

At University Oval, Dunedin: Wellington 368 (Muhammad Abbas 79, Nathan Smith 73, Luke Georgeson 61, Nick Kelly 60; Jacob Duffy 4-92) and 27-0 met Otago 287 (Dale Phillips 87, Glenn Phillips 61, Hamish Rutherford 52; Rachin Ravindra 3-19)

At Seddon Park, Hamilton: Northern Districts 273-9 decl (Katene Clarke 58, Jeet Raval 47, Mitchell Santner 44, Kristian Clarke 44no; Henry Shipley 3-44) met Canterbury 299-7 (Rhys Mariu 68, Ish Sodhi 65no, Shipley 42; Brett Hampton 4-47)