Essex need another 248 runs to beat New Zealand after the tourists' batsmen failed to fire in their second innings on the third day of a four-day cricket match at Chelmsford this morning (NZ time).
New Zealand dismissed Essex, 251 runs for nine wickets overnight, for the additionof seven runs in the morning session to lead by 97 runs.
But in an all-too-familiar scenario, New Zealand were struggling at 63-4 before lunch and proceeded to fritter wickets away.
It was only an unbeaten 53 from Kyle Mills that lifted New Zealand's score to 195 which set Essex a challenging 293 with a day to play.
At stumps, Essex were 45-1 with Iain O'Brien taking the wicket of former England international Jason Gallian.
Jamie How and James Marshall, elevated to No 2 following Aaron Redmond's hand injury yesterday, both fell within 30 minutes to Tony Palladino and Alex Tudor respectively.
Brendon McCullum lifted the scoring rate, smashing 35 from 29 balls with seven muscular fours, but fell to Ravi Bopara's outswingers to have Essex well on top at 4-63.
After an excellent spell with the new ball Palladino pulled off a fine catch at mid-on to dismiss Jacob Oram for 19, diving to his right off Bopara.
New Zealand were slipping fast at 92-6, but Redmond and Mills finally showed some application in a solid stand of 58.
Redmond spent 106 balls for his 30, and Mills - who cracked five fours and two sixes - was left not-out on 53, also from 106 balls.
Maurice Chambers was again impressive, returning 3-37 from 12.4 overs.
New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori, nursing a finger injury, did not bat.
Set 293 to win, Essex's openers, Alastair Cook and Gallian, cracked 39 from nine overs. Cook should have been held by Ross Taylor at slip when on nought.
Shortly before the close O'Brien made up for the clattering he received earlier to remove Gallian, leaving an intriguing final day's play in prospect with Essex requiring a further 248.
