The game, Shanghai Aussies versus The Rest of the World, was played last Sunday in extreme temperatures (at least 35C) and humidity. The Australians had actually challenged us (ROW) and were as cocky as ever, but they lost the toss and were sent out to field. Mike Tsesmelis was captaining the ROW and Paul Turner the Aussies.

The ROW, featuring English, Kiwi, Pakistani, Indian, Sri Lankan, South African and American players scored a solid 176 all out off 36 overs (of 40). Opening bat Shardul Wartikar (Indian) hit a stylish 46, number three Mike Tsesmelis (English) a determined 42 (but was dropped on 0), and number five Naveed Akram (Pakistan) a quick-fire 42. No-one else really got in.

For the Australians the star bowler had to be the Todd "The Chunder from Down Under" Pearson, who having got home from the infamous Ju Lu Lu at 6.30 am, spent half his time depositing luminous yellow vomit at strategic points across the field. In true Aussie spirit though he battled on and came back to take three important wickets.

After a welcome break between innings, the ROW took to the field knowing that they'd have to bowl well to contain the Aussies. 177 in 40 overs with short boundaries was definitely on, but Australia got off to the worst possible start when captain Turner was clean bowled first ball of the innings by a peach from Larry Langdon (England). Whilst Tsesmelis struggled to find a rhythm at the other end, Langdon continued to menace, and was soon rewarded with another key-wicket, this time having Charles Taylor caught behind by Kiwi Scott Brown.

Still at the other end though was Warwick Eather, the tall left-hander, who found his timing just at the wrong time for first-change bowler Gary Davies (South Africa), who according to rumours may have burnt the roof of his mouth whilst watching the ball continually disappear back over his head.

Whilst doing some serious damage to the ROW total, Eather had also found an able partner in Tony Finnochiaro, and the two quickly began to put the pressure on the ROW. Pushing the ball around well and ruthlessly punishing loose deliveries, the left-hand/right-hand combination soon had the ROW in tatters. With the score pushing rapidly towards 100 it began to look like the Aussies were going to restore some pride after the Lions defeat, but then a moment of magic in the field turned the game on its head. Pushing the ball into the legside Eather surely thought he'd make it home comfortably, but finding athleticism that we never knew he had, Shardul Wartikar suddenly swooped and with a venomous throw shattered the stumps at the bowler's end. Eather was on his way back, and his superb 53 was acknowledged by all.

Finnochiaro was joined by a fresh partner, but shortly after had to retire due to heat exhaustion, and Jagath Ratnayake (Sri Lanka) was brought back into the attack to have a go at the new pair. He justified the decision and his ridiculous sun-hat by bowling three tight overs and claiming three wickets in quick succession, and the Aussies looked down an out.

Langdon was then brought back in to have a go at the tail, and his third wicket brought Finnochiaro back to the crease as last man. The game was looking beyond them, but then Australia rallied again. For the first time all day The Chunder from Down Under was looking solid, and then in one over Finnochiaro smashed debutante Nick Page (USA) to the boundary to bring Australia to within 35 of their target. Fading in the heat it became clear that the last pair had no intention of running, and in the end some tight bowling paid off as Finnochiaro eventually swung at a full one from Tsesmelis and was bowled. He was out for a battling 46, and the Australians had come up just 30 short.

© 2001 CricInfo Ltd