Marshall makes batting breakthrough

Hamish Marshall's unbeaten 155 in the New Zealand Academy's game with Tamil Nadu Districts in Chennai is a significant step in his burgeoning career.

His effort ensured the side complete control in its first game in the MRF Buchi Babu Invitation Tournament as it reached 382-8, a lead of 223 runs.

The twin brother of James Marshall, Hamish has been the later developer of the two. However, he was always seen as a potential international. Three years ago, he was called into New Zealand's Youth World Cup team when Michael Papps returned home injured.

He won a place in the final of that tournament and a season later was playing for Northern Districts. While he took time to adapt, he was persevered with by the ND selectors and in 13 first-class games before the Academy tour to India, he had scored 418 runs at 20.9.

His best score was 58 against Central Districts in last summer's Shell Trophy competition.

His Northern Districts coach Chris Kuggeleijn was delighted with news of his innings.

"What that will do for his confidence is great. It is great to see someone doing well over there, not just because he's from Northern Districts, but because we want to see New Zealand cricket do well.

"Hamish could be anything he wants to be. He hadn't really blown the world away in his last season but you can't push young guys, just keep working with them.

"You can see the potential is there, and what he does in the field is tremendous. He is a great fielder.

"Watch him in four years time, who knows how good he will be?

"I'm looking forward to catching up with him when he comes back. He might just have got the monkey off his back and gone from a promising player to a good one.

"I've got a lot of faith in him and, in fact, in all the young players in our side. They can play three times better than what they did last season," Kuggeleijn said.

Yesterday he faced 223 balls when batting for much of the day and hit 19 fours in his innings. He came to the wicket with New Zealand 50/3 and added 83 for the fourth wicket with Jacob Oram, who was dismissed for 54.

Aaron Redmond then dug in with Marshall during a 153-run fifth wicket stand. Redmond was next out for 71.

New Zealand also maintained a good scoring rate with its 350 posted in 100.3 overs.