Marnus Labuschagne denied first Test century in 15 months by freakish ‘Superman’ catch as Kiwis fight back in Wellington

The frustrating wait for a 12th Test century continues for Marnus Labuschagne courtesy of a piece of freak fielding that ended his charge in the second Test against New Zealand in Wellington. 

Labuschagne, playing his 50th Test, made a superb 90 and looked set for a fighting ton until Glenn Phillips took a screamer at gully to remove him.

Diving at full stretch away to his right, New Zealand’s most athletic fieldsman threw his right hand out and hauled in the catch to the shock of cricket fans around the world.

It was a stunning dismissal but a brutal way for Labuschagne to lose his wicket after largely playing error-free cricket all morning. 

‘That was a blinder from Glen Phillips to get rid of Marnus on 90. Can’t get any better,’ one shocked cricket fan posted.

‘Build the team around Glen Phillips. What an athlete. What a player,’ posted another.

‘Glen Phillips is my favourite cricket player for so many reasons,’ added another.

Labuschagne top-scored for the Australians with his defiant 90, his highest Test score in 15 knocks, after surviving an earlier LBW shout to reach his half century. 

The 29-year-old’s knock was a fine tonic to a recent run of outs, coming into the Hagley Oval Test with six innings of 10 runs or fewer.

He was dismissed on lunch with the score 8-221, a 59-run lead, before Australia’s tailenders pushed the total to 256 all out, comfortably ahead of New Zealand’s 162 on day one.

The Kiwis had every reason to celebrate the wicket of Labuschagne as it put them back into the match after the Aussies threatened to bat them out of it

Australia’s advantage came in the face of a mighty haul from Henry, who finished with 7-67 at his home ground.

Henry added nightwatchman Nathan Lyon (20) and Mitch Marsh (duck) to his day-one scalps before lunch.

After the main break, he dismissed Mitchell Starc (28) caught behind and Pat Cummins (23) lbw for the second seven-wicket effort of his career.

The 32-year-old, who bats at nine, is both New Zealand’s leading run-scorer and chief wicket-taker from the two-Test series.

In response, New Zealand was 1-43 at tea. 

Australia lead the two-Test series 1-0 after a 172-run victory at Wellington’s Basin Reserve last week, and have already retained the Trans-Tasman Trophy.