Cardiff University upset the formbook with an impressive four wicket win in the St Helens lions den that has seen so many memorable Varsity occasions. With about 2,000 less supporters to contend with, the probing medium pace of the Cardiff bowlers proved to be the right ingredients for the slow track.

Whilst the Swansea batsmen could reasonably point out that they got themselves in, the scorebook also points out that they got themselves out. The regular fal of wickets was only arrested by the efforts of Jennings and Smith who’s 41 run partnership provided the platform for a late over assault. Alas Peter Talbot had other ideas as his 4-15 spell finished off the good work started by Gosling 2-28 and Weeks 2-19.

To underline the impression that this was not going to be an easy day for batting, Cardiff were soon reduced to 4-2, as Adam Davies ripped through Talbot’s defences with one that nipped back and Heyes won an lbw against a distraught Petheridge. Mike Horwell and Nils Jorgensen transformed the game with a 72 run partnership that not only saw off Swansea’s spearheads but also exposed the lack of penetration from the rest.

With Horwell grinding away and picking off the spinners when roused, the desperate re-introduction of Heyes and Davies not only arrested the scoring rate, but suddenly starting eating into the wickets total. Suddenly at 128-6, the panic bells rang, but two fours in quick succession from McCullough and Harris eased the jitters.