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Mills rescues NZ with the bat
05/05/2008 08:11 - (SA)
London - Tailender Kyle Mills's unbeaten half-century ensured New Zealand left Essex with a testing target to chase on the final day of their tour-day match at Chelmsford.
New Zealand lost four quick wickets in swing-friendly conditions at Essex's home ground in eastern England before Mills, who made 53 not out, shared a seventh-wicket stand of 58 with Aaron Redmond that helped the tourists make 195 in their second innings.
That left Essex needing a target of 293 to win.
At the end of Sunday's third day of four they were 45 for one after Australian-born ex-England batsman Jason Gallian was caught in the slips off Iain O'Brien off the last ball of the day.
But earlier there was disappointment for O'Brien when he had current England opener Alastair Cook dropped on nought at slip by Ross Taylor.
Cook will resume on 21 not out.
Injured New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori was unable to bat because of the finger injury he sustained Saturday.
New Zealand had slumped to 92 for six when pace bowler Mills joined Redmond, who was batting down the order rather than in his usual opening position after a minor injury on Saturday.
Mills was nearly out on 27 when turning off-spinner James Middlebrook off his hip but England all-rounder Ravi Bopara couldn't hold on at backward short-leg.
In all Mills hit two sixes, on both occasions hoisting Middlebrook over long-on, and five fours in a 104-ball fifty.
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Rugby
