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 match at Southampton yesterday.
A surprise selection, 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 ahead of the first test at Lord's starting on Thursday.
The 28-year-old's 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 opener against the MCC at Arundel and has looked at home in subsequent innings.
Redmond, who brought up his ton by pulling a long-hop from Adil Rashid, was alongside a scoreless Chris Martin at stumps.
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, followed soon afterwards by Marshall for 10 and Ross Taylor for five.
They fell to former England seamer Tremlett, who had 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 snared three wickets each as Luke Wright top-scored for the hosts with 120.
