Phillip feels WI can still win second Test

WELLINGTON, New Zealand:

Despite New Zealand having the upper hand after day two of the second Test, West Indies pacer Anderson Phillip still believes his side can flip the script and push for a win.

Led by Phillip's three-wicket haul, the Windies did well to restrict New Zealand to 278, which gave the home side a handy first innings lead of 73.

By the close of play at the Basin Reserve on Thursday, the West Indies had limped to 32 for two, losing the wickets of John Campbell and nightwatchman Phillip, still trailing their opponents by 41 runs.

Jacob Duffy and Michael Rae grabbed two late wickets after a courageous effort by the West Indies' bowlers brought them back into contention on Thursday's second day.

Rae produced a brilliant inswinger to bowl John Campbell, while Duffy trapped nightwatchman Anderson Phillip plumb in front.

However, despite the tricky position, Phillip says the team is still in high spirits and has not given up hope of securing a victory.

"I think that we're in a pretty good position. We would have liked the lead to be less, but we will take that any day, any time, keeping New Zealand under 300, so we'll take that still.

"We kept them under 300 and we back our batsmen to put up a good total to defend at the end...I think once we get over 300 our bowlers definitely can defend that," Phillip said at the end of day press conference.

The fast bowler said the team's batting performance in the fourth innings of the first Test match had given them the belief that they can produce a similar performance this time around.

"We are pretty confident in our batsmen. Once we knock off this lead, I think that once we get a total of 300 we are capable of defending it when it comes to the bowling," Phillip said.

-CMC