Interesting finish in prospect

An interesting final day's play is on the cards in the Buchi Babu all India invitation tournament between ONGC and TNCA President's XI at the AC Tech college ground in Chennai on Tuesday. At stumps on the second day on Monday, ONGC were 95 for two in their first innings in reply to the home team's score of 383. A total of 289 runs in a day with eight wickets in hand is a tough, but not impossible task. On the other hand, it is also possible for TNCA President's XI to take eight wickets without conceding that many. All in all, it can be said that the match is nicely poised for a keen battle for the all important first innings lead.

Having resumed at 296 for five, TNCA President's XI could not have been happy at getting only 87 runs on Monday morning. The overnight sixth wicket pair of Badri Attavar and D Dhandapani took their partnership to 151 before the latter was out for 62. Attavar was comparatively subdued but got to 155 before he was leg before to Saif. He batted 426 minutes, faced 306 balls and hit 18 boundaries. There was some resistance from the tail but the home team's total fell below expectations. Rahul Sanghvi finished the most successful bowler with three for 90.

ONGC were off a good start with openers Manoj Mudgal and Gagan Khoda putting on 52 runs off 12 overs before the former was out for 25. Skipper G Vadhera (3) did not last long but Khoda continued to go for his shots. Shortly before close, he reached his half century with eight fours and a six. By close he had faced 67 balls and a lot will obviously depend on him as ONGC continue their run chase on Tuesday. Keeping him company is another run getter with the proper credentials, Virendra Shewag who has started off well, getting 13 runs off ten deliveries with two hits to the fence.