The first day of this crucial Pura Cup match between New South Wales and Victoria was peppered with rain delays and stoppages here at the Sydney Cricket Ground. But, despite the stuttering nature of the play, the Victorians still managed to make their way in sound fashion to a score of 3/215 by stumps.

The start was delayed by nine minutes and, perhaps a little surprisingly given the gloomy conditions, Victoria elected to bat first.

Openers Jason Arnberger (90) and Matthew Elliott (27) made a strong start, building a seventy-four run partnership in the first half of the day. The New South Wales attack worked to contain them initially, speedsters Nathan Bracken (0/39) and Stuart Clark (2/46) failing to make any early inroads. It was evident from the outset that pace bowlers were going to struggle in the damp conditions.

It wasn't until the afternoon session that the first wicket was taken. And even then, it was only by means of what must have been the faintest of touches from the bat of Elliott as he nibbled at a ball spun away from him by off spinner Anthony Clark (1/52) in the twenty-fifth over.

Not to be intimidated, the Victorians dusted themselves off, brought in Matthew Mott (18) and set about steadily racking up the runs again.

Mott, too, was eventually undone by a catch from debutant wicketkeeper Nathan Pilon - filling in as a replacement for Indian tourist Brad Haddin - after he pushed tentatively at a delivery from Stuart Clark that was angled across him.

In the sixty-sixth over, probably the most crucial wicket of the day fell, Arnberger caught by Shane Lee in the slips. It is worth noting the rain probably played an integral part in the match at this point, the consistent stoppages seemingly upsetting the rhythm that Arnberger had established through the early and middle stages of his innings. He had looked comfortable and confident at the crease before going off to one heavy shower just before tea, and looked well set to repeat the performance that brought him a first innings century against Tasmania last week.

It was the rejuvenated New South Wales attack that best used the rain to its advantage, limiting the Victorians' progress through the closing stages of the day. A heavy outfield also slowed the ball considerably and several shots that might normally have travelled the full distance to the boundary were instead overhauled by fieldsmen.

Stuart Clark emerged as the pick of the bowlers but it wasn't really a day on which anyone from the Blues team stood out. Bracken bowled well late in the day but wasn't at his best in the morning and it was one of the few days in recent times that he has gone wicketless.

The form of leg spinner Stuart MacGill (0/29) fluctuated. The wet weather tended to limit his abilities to gain grip on the ball and to impart significant spin. He only bowled eleven overs, but three of them were maidens and he certainly troubled Arnberger as much as anyone.

Like the weather, it wasn't really a sparkling day's play from the home side. If the Bushrangers take away more points from this game than New South Wales, then a spot in the 2000-01 Pura Cup Final is theirs. Today, they duly played like a team that looked content in that knowledge and accordingly more focused and more decisive. It would seem that the Blues, by contrast, will need to call on more of the team spirit and more of the ruthlessness that they brought to their game here against Queensland last week if they are to turn the tables when play resumes at the early time of 10:30am tomorrow.

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