da fezbet： Resuming on 303/4, the New Zealand ‘A’ side posted a mammoth 474/8declared in the first innings of their clash against MRF at the MAChidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Staff Reporter21-Aug-2001Resuming on 303/4, the New Zealand ‘A’ side posted a mammoth 474/8declared in the first innings of their clash against MRF at the MAChidambaram Stadium, Chennai. The home side in response made 113/2 off27 overs before play was called off on the second day.As on the first day, the New Zealand ‘A’ batsmen enjoyed the best of aflat wicket on Monday. Hamish Marshall, unbeaten on 84 when the day’splay began, notched up an innings highest 120 (16 fours, 2 sixes)before being caught by Sridharan Sriram at covers off the bowling ofleft arm spinner Babloo Kumar. Marshall’s quick knock enabled the NewZealand ‘A’ team to pile on the runs. Batting around Marshall waswell-built southpaw Jacob Oram. The pair added 92 runs for the fifthwicket.After Marshall’s departure, Oram continued to notch up the runs, withstumper Chris Nevin also playing a good hand. Oram’s innings finally cameto a close when he was seventh out with the score on 452. Oram’s 74came off almost twice as many balls and included seven boundaries anda six. Nevin’s 29 (49 balls, 4 fours) helped New Zealand ‘A’ reach474, the score at which they eventually declared.Steady batting by MRF skipper Sriram (45 not out, 82 balls, 8 fours)and Tanveer Jabbar (51, 77 balls, 9 fours) saw MRF cross the 100 mark.However, still 361 runs behind in the first innings, with just one dayleft to be played, the MRF team is in a position they would have likedto avoid. In the event that the first innings of both teams is notcompleted, the match will be decided by spin of the coin. Simply put,MRF need to score 361 runs off the minimum 95 overs to be bowledtomorrow. If they are dismissed for less than 474, New Zealand willadvance to the semi-finals. And finally, if MRF bat out the final dayand yet fail to take the first innings lead, the fate of both teamswill lie in the result of the coin toss.