New Zealand's advance to the semi-finals stage of India's Buchi Babu tournament is not the only reason coach Ashley Ross is happy.

A deliberate pre-tour scheme to develop the skill of reverse swing among the side's bowlers has borne early fruit.

"We worked on it at the pre-tour training camp, looking at the mechanics of what is involved and have worked on it here," he told CricInfo from Chennai today.

"None of this is about working on the rough side of the ball, it's all about preparing the good side and looking after its shine," he said.

Chris Drum, Shane Bond and Kyle Mills have all been producing significant reverse swing but the most memorable efforts came from Jacob Oram yesterday.

"Jacob bowled two amazing reverse swing deliveries within three overs, one of which the batsman left only to see the wicket knocked out of the ground. He hit the stumps twice at vital times in the game.

"We have a new toy and we will be continuing to work on the skills," he said.

Ross said he would be passing on the information and strategy to new CLEAR Black Caps coach Denis Aberhart for New Zealand to consider when touring Pakistan next month.

"We will have to make sure we execute the skill with accuracy. It is a huge change in bowlers' mentalities."

Ross has been delighted with the way the players have adjusted to the conditions in the tournament.

The first game, which ended as a close first innings contest, had been the first game of the season for most of the players involved and they had responded well, especially when under pressure on the last day.

While the scores were very close, New Zealand was also under a penalty threat as a result of its over rate and for a time was in danger of losing the game as the result of a mathematical imposition due to the over rate.

"We were very focused in what we had to do and under trying conditions the guys never faltered," he said.

Seeing Matthew Horne celebrate his return to top play by scoring a century was satisfying, although Ross said the side had probably not helped its overall batting performance by trying to score a little too quickly for the conditions.

The last wicket stand between Bond and Drum had been the matchwinner.

"Shane used his feet well and was hitting the spinners into gaps for twos and their 56 runs was the difference," he said.

That first game had been the hardest of the two the side had played because of the requirement to adapt but the side had taken on board the lessons from their Indian opponents and applied them in the second game.

Team captain Matthew Bell had batted for long periods in both games. Ross estimated that of New Zealand's total batting time in the two games, Bell would have spent 60% of the time in the middle.

Hamish Marshall, who scored two centuries at the same ground in last year's tournament, added a third in the most recent game to make it three out of three.

"The interesting thing this time was that after both his centuries last year he suffered heat stroke but he had no problems this time," he said.

The spin bowlers had been doing well and Ross was pleased with the way leg spinner Brooke Walker bowled in the most recent game, while Glen Sulzberger with his five wicket bag yesterday had picked up eight wickets in the tournament to date.

Ross wasn't concerned by Test opener Mark Richardson's failure to get among the runs in the two games.

"He nicked two good deliveries and got out. I'm backing him to make a big contribution in the next two games," he said.

"It was nothing outside his game plan that caused the problem," he said.

Ross was pleased with the spirit that has emerged in the team. After the first game an optional training run saw 12 of the 14 players take part. He didn't expect so many at today's optional run.

And the social committee's suggestion of a Le Mans-style Tuktuk race to the team dinner about 30 minutes from the team's hotel had produced some sensational driving from the drivers who were on a 100 rupee bonus to get their passengers first to the dinner.

Ross reported the side had no injury or illness problems.

© CricInfo