The final of MRF Buchi Babu Invitational Tournament got underway at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk in Chennai on Tuesday. At close of play on the first day, New Zealand 'A' were on 231 for the loss of three wickets. The highlight of the opening day was a dashing century by the New Zealand 'A' opening batsman Mark Richardson.

Earlier in the day Rohan Gavaskar won the toss for Cricket Association of Bengal XI and did not hesitate to put New Zealand 'A' to bat first. Richardson and skipper Matthew Bell gave New Zealand 'A' a sound start adding 80 runs for the first wicket off 26.3 overs. For once the tall, well-built Shib Sankar Paul failed to give the early breakthrough for CAB XI. The left-handed batsman Richardson was particularly aggressive of the two opening batsmen, smacking boundaries on either sides of the wicket.

Matthew Bell's vigil at the crease came to an end when Saurasish Lahiri trapped him in front of the wicket. Bell compiled a patient 22 off 75 balls with the help of three boundaries. After the departure of the skipper, the run rate slowed down considerably against the spin attack of Lahiri and Utpal Chatterjee.

Richardson and Matt Horne added 38 runs off 21 overs to take New Zealand 'A' score to 118 in the 48th over. Horne was caught by Chatterjee off the bowling of Laxmi Ratan Shukla after making 15 runs off 55 balls.

Lou Vincent joined Richardson in the middle and the run rate got a little fillip that it badly needed. Vincent was in a positive frame of mind, going for his shots to accumulate runs. The two batsmen added 81 runs off 30 overs for the third wicket to take the New Zealand 'A' score to a respectable 199 runs in the 78th over.

The thirty-year-old batsman, who plays for Otago in New Zealand, got to his well-deserved hundred in the mean while. Before being caught by Jaiswal off the bowling of Shukla, he made 112 runs off 252 balls, striking the ball cleanly for 17 boundaries. It was a good hand from Richardson ensuring that New Zealand 'A' got off to a solid start.

By close of play Lou Vincent got to his half century and remained unbeaten on 54 off 113 balls, a knock punctuated with nine boundaries and a six. Hamish Marshall is unbeaten on 11 off 32 balls and has added 42 runs for the fourth wicket partnership so far. Shukla was the best of the bowlers picking up 2/50. New Zealand 'A' will be looking forward to post a huge total tomorrow, on a pitch that is full of runs. Lou Vincent will have to carry on with the good form that he has shown so far.

© CricInfo