Hamish Marshall grinds Districts attack to pulp

If the New Zealand Cricket Academy sent a team to participate in the Buchi Babu Invitation Tournament 2000 to gain experience on sub continent wickets, they seem to have achieved that already. After rocking Tamil Nadu Districts XI out for a paltry 153 on the first day, the visitors began the second day on 34/1.

Although Jacob Oram managed to pile on a brisk 54 and Aaron Redmond helped himself to a sedate 71, the day belonged well and truly to Northern Districts batsman Hamish Marshall. At the crease unconquered at the end of the day, Hamish Marshall had a massive 155 to his name. His knock alone surpassed the combined score of the Tamil Nadu Districts XI team. The stocky batsmen who usually bats around number six, was in commanding form. Spinners and pacemen alike could not dislodge him as he crossed landmark after landmark. Although he did not clear the ropes even once in his stay at the crease, he peppered the boundary with 19 strokes.

Hamish Marshall flourished especially luxuriously in the company of James Franklin, who led New Zealand Under-19s not so long ago in the World Cup at Sri Lanka. Franklin rotated the strike around well and when the partnership was finally broken, the pair had added 120. Earlier in the day, Jacob Oram combined with Marshall to notch up a quick partnership of over 150 from 43.4 overs.

When stumps was called, New Zealand had lost 8 wickets, but that was hardly of any consequence as they were far ahead of the Tamil Nadu Districts XI score. At 382/8, the Kiwis had added nearly 350 runs on the second day of this three day game. The New Zealand Academy XI will no doubt press hard tomorrow for an outright win.