Mumbai managed to gain a slender four-run first innings lead against Tamil Nadu at the Guru Nanak College Ground, Chennai. But with a further three days of cricket to be played, the second innings of both teams would, in all probability, decide the winners in this low- scoring affair. That being the case, Tamil Nadu's end-of-the-day second innings score of 31 for one could be termed a step in the right direction.

Mumbai, who resumed at 16 for three in reply to Tamil Nadu's 182, were helped by useful cameos from Amol Muzumudar (23), Kunal More (30), Bhavin Thakkar (33), Robin Morris (39) and Rajesh Pawar (33). None of them though pushed on to make big scores and this meant that Mumbai could only secure the slenderest of leads. For Tamil Nadu, spinner Ashish Kapoor and fast bowler L Balaji, claimed three wickets each.

Tamil Nadu lost Sadagoppan Ramesh early but Sridharan Sriram and Hemanth Kumar ensured that they ended the day without suffering any further jolts. Friday, to state the obvious, will now prove to be the all-important day.

© CricInfo