KEY POINTS:
A career-best, unbeaten 139 to opener Aaron Redmond held New Zealand's first innings together and kept them level-pegging with England A on the second day of their tour cricket match at Southampton today.
A surprise selection for the tour, Redmond unveiled exactly what the selectors saw in him
by batting through the day at The Rose Bowl, with his team 261 for nine in reply to England A's 280.
A patient, disciplined stay of more than six hours included 22 fours and will be an enormous confidence boost to the 28 year old ahead of the first test at Lord's starting on Thursday.
His previous best score in 68 first class matches was an unbeaten 135, for Otago against Canterbury two years ago.
He took a blow on the helmet early from pace man Chris Tremlett and offered just one chance, on 97 when he was dropped at first slip.
The former specialist spin bowler scored 72 in the tour-opening match against the MCC at Arundel and has looked at home in subsequent innings.
It was the second century of the tour following James Marshall's 128 against Essex.
Redmond, who brought up his ton by pulling a long-hop from Adil Rashid, was alongside a scoreless Chris Martin at stumps.
The tourists are likely to concede a small first innings deficit in what is proving an even tussle.
A late collapse in which the last four wickets fell for 17 runs handed some momentum back to the hosts.
It was looking comfortable for New Zealand at 124 for three and with captain Brendon McCullum in full flight, but he was run out for a hard-hit 47 off 43 balls in the only blot on Redmond's copybook. With their partnership at 77, the Otago opener sent McCullum back in a mix-up and the wicketkeeper was caught short by a direct hit.
New Zealand made a shaky start, with opener Jamie How trapped in front without scoring in the second over of the day, followed soon afterwards by Marshall for 10 and Ross Taylor for five.
They both fell to former England seamer Tremlett, who finished with three for 58 and was the pick of the England A attack. Matthew Hoggard took three for 41 as he tore through the tail and Graham Onions two for 45.
Onions trapped Daniel Flynn lbw for an uncomfortable 16 while Jacob Oram was caught behind off Tremlett for 25, sparking the late capitulation.
New Zealand seam bowlers Martin, Oram and Tim Southee all snared three wickets yesterday, when Luke Wright top-scored for the hosts with 120.
SCOREBOARD
England A
First innings 280
New Zealand
First innings
J How lbw b Onions 0
A Redmond not out 139
J Marshall c Wright b Tremlett 10
R Taylor c Prior b Tremlett 5
B McCullum run out 47
D Flynn lbw b Onions 16
J Oram c Prior b Tremlett 25
J Patel c Shah b Hoggard 2
T Southee c Swann b Hoggard 6
I O'Brien lbw b Hoggard 0
C Martin not out 0
Extras (9lb, 1w, 1nb) 11
Total (for 9 wkts, 90 overs) 261
Fall: 1 (How), 33 (Marshall), 47 (Taylor), 124 (McCullum), 172 (Flynn), 244 (Oram), 250 (Patel), 260 (Southee), 260 (O'Brien)
Bowling: M Hoggard 20-6-41-3, G Onions 18-8-45-2, C Tremlett 17-0-58-3 (1nb, 1w), G Swann 18-4-55-0, R Bopara 1-0-4-0, L Wright 6-1-12-0, A Rashid 10-2-37-0
- NZPA