Resuming on 303/4, the New Zealand 'A' side posted a mammoth 474/8 declared in the first innings of their clash against MRF at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai. The home side in response made 113/2 off 27 overs before play was called off on the second day.

As on the first day, the New Zealand 'A' batsmen enjoyed the best of a flat wicket on Monday. Hamish Marshall, unbeaten on 84 when the day's play began, notched up an innings highest 120 (16 fours, 2 sixes) before being caught by Sridharan Sriram at covers off the bowling of left arm spinner Babloo Kumar. Marshall's quick knock enabled the New Zealand 'A' team to pile on the runs. Batting around Marshall was well-built southpaw Jacob Oram. The pair added 92 runs for the fifth wicket.

After Marshall's departure, Oram continued to notch up the runs, with stumper Chris Nevin also playing a good hand. Oram's innings finally came to a close when he was seventh out with the score on 452. Oram's 74 came off almost twice as many balls and included seven boundaries and a six. Nevin's 29 (49 balls, 4 fours) helped New Zealand 'A' reach 474, 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 day left to be played, the MRF team is in a position they would have liked to avoid. In the event that the first innings of both teams is not completed, 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 bowled tomorrow. If they are dismissed for less than 474, New Zealand will advance to the semi-finals. And finally, if MRF bat out the final day and yet fail to take the first innings lead, the fate of both teams will lie in the result of the coin toss.

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