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Kiwis set Essex final day chase

category: Cricket

05.05.2008 00:26

Ross Taylor made only four but was defeated by low bounce and edged onto leg-stump, a first wicket for three years for Maurice Chambers.

Brendon McCullum made a typically robust 35, advancing down the wicket boldly against the seamers, but shortly before lunch Bopara swung one to take the edge just outside off-stump and Jason Gallian pouched the chance at slip.

Daniel Flynn cut tamely to gully and Palladino held an oustanding one-handed diving catch at mid-on to dismiss Oram.

Redmond, who had attempted to bat before Oram but was sent back by the umpires who insisted he had not served suitable time, was dropped by Middlebrook off his own bowling on 20.

Meanwhile, Vettori confirmed he would not play in the final warm-up against England Lions at the Rose Bowl starting on Thursday.

"But I'm confident of being ready for the first Test match," (on 15 May) he said.

"I just caught a ball thrown at the stumps. I backed it up and I took it awkwardly and gashed across the side of my left index finger.

"It's something I've never really seen in cricket before - all the balls I've caught it's never happened, and unfortunately it's happened out there. "I've never seen it happen to anyone else in cricket - and the number of times guys catch cricket balls, it's amazing. But I'll just get on with it as best as I can.

"I think gripping the ball is going to be the problem, getting used to it again and trying not to open it up constantly - so I'll try to give it as much of a rest as possible before that first Test."

Regarding the team's form ahead of the Test at Lord's he said: "There's been some really good stuff. I think James Marshall's batting in the first innings was outstanding.

"I think Ian O'Brien and Michael Mason did a really good job with the ball - and little snippets, Kyle Mills' batting, have been good.

"But the scorecard we've got in the second innings is not ideal.

"Once again, we've had a tough time putting runs on the board - but we hope we've got enough here to force a win."

Original text is here

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