With the long time skipper DR Bell dropped after a poor performance on day one it was left to new openers Will Spivey and Mark Shaw to see off the new ball attack in the 30 over fixture. Professional scorer and ladies man Shaw talked a good game whilst padding up "I can't do any worse than Belly" who had succumbed to a second ball duck on day one. Complete with robocop eyewear the Hall Park legend duly lasted just the one ball. At the other end young Will from Ilkley found the going tough, no doubt still trying to work out that drinking with room mate Rhodes'y never ends well (acidic room fragrance free of charge). Other notable performances during the first innings included some top boshing from Oz (95) and Ed Brown once again retiring unbeaten (following some strong sledging). Meanwhile the pressures of captaincy were taking their toll on Rhodes. After a restless night deliberating the controversial Bell axing, the skipper departed for a king pair (second golden) and this had some questioning the skippers position for the final tour game.

 

The two jakes took the new pill with tarquin in particular bowling a hostile spell, taking the two key early wickets complete with a broken bail. An interesting bowling change saw the not so agile Denny come on and offer up some buffet bowling whilst at the other end specialist fielder Shaw came off his longer run up, telling his keeper and slip cordon to move back. Skipper Rhodes came on to clean up the tail end, with an excellent c and b earning the tail ender a place in the team on day 3.

 

A first victory on tour since 2013.

 

Extras:

Umpires fielding points: Rhodes x 1 and Shaw x 1

Geoff boycott award: Mel Wood

Mole hunter of the day: Mark Shaw

Best attitude: Jake Toulson ("I'm sweating through my eyelids")

Late influx of tennis dolly birds.

Excellent teas.