Neven sent out Triangle stalwart John Baxter, accompanied by 1st XI vice-Captain and new Triangle spokesman, Simon "Chalky" Barrett to open the innings. Having been sent down to the 2nd's by Club Captain Graham Elenor, to get some runs under his belt and build his confidence, Chalky set about his task, facing the medium-fast and sometimes aggressive bowling of Branksome's Purnell, making a rare appearance for the hosts. The openers saw off the new-ball bowlers in a dogged stand of 44 as they gradually got to grips with the pitch's indifferent bounce seeing balls pitching on a length either popping up or shooting low. Baxter was the first wicket to fall, as he went for an uncharacteristic slash outside leg and was caught off the bowling of Tubbs, who had just come into the attack.

Fresh from facing the Stalbridge pace attack of Forshaw and Chant the week before while helping to prop up the 1st XI's tail, Bill Gates came in at his familiar number 3 position. He didn't hang around long as he was bowled trying to work the ball down the legside for a miserable duck. John Dixon was up next, continuing his comeback from a 7 year absence, and proved he hasn't lost his touch hitting his first delivery for four with a sublime cover drive. This proved to be a taster for a short cameo at the crease as he blasted 19 quick runs, mostly in boundaries, before he too was bowled.

This ushered the arrival of Mark Nott, who has adapted well to batting higher in the order, and he proved once again that a good eye can make up for a lack of footwork, as he and Barrett forged a 51 run partnership.Nott hit some lusty blows as Barrett continued to hold his end up, hitting the bad ball to keep the run rate ticking over. While not many runs came off the bat during their 50-stand, both men ran well as they earned the team 3 batting points. Nott then faced a fiery over when the opening bowler Purnell returned, hitting his first bouncer for four via a thick edge over the keeper, before being dismissed in the final ball of the over missing a straight one.

The much maligned Jones came to the crease, though this was to be the start of a bad weekend for the big man as he was dismissed first ball for a golden duck LBW, fired out by Baxter, who started where he had left off in the 80th Anniversary game the day before. The lovely Neven replaced the hapless Jones with just a few overs remaining, and looked like helping Chalky edge the total towards the final batting point. With Barrett already past his half century and looking at last to start cutting loose, alas Neven didn't hang around for long before he was cleaned up looking for a big hit. Bill Trevett then sauntered to the middle and scored a fairly rapid 8 runs as Triangle moved within 5 of maximum batting points. Simon was run out on the final ball of the innings looking for a single, but deserved to be unbeaten after carrying his bat on a very difficult batting track.

With tea taken and Neven's boys knowing their task in hand, the Captain tossed the new ball to the reliable pair of Tim "Rupert" Waight and Trevett. Setting a fairly aggressive, yet at the same time, a cautious field Rupert and Trevett bowled a tight line on the suspect pitch. Purnell looked to drive the ball through the covers at any opportunity, though Neven (with Barrett's guidance) had protection in abundance in this area, though the batsmen kept picking out the susceptible John Baxter for some easy runs.

Trevett struck first, removing the other opener with a wicked delivery down the slope, bringing in Branksome's left-handed no. 3. However, he never looked comfortable and was soon back in the pavilion becoming Rupert's only victim of the afternoon. Rupert continued to bowl a nagging line up the hill, but Purnell felt that he was able to take him on moreso than Trevett. With Bill tiring after picking up 3 useful wickets, Neven brought on his ace in the pack, John Dixon, to beguile the batsmen with his left arm off breaks. As Branksome's run rate crawled along, it was Dicko's rather than Rupert's bowling they now went after, though "Stone Cold" should have picked up a wicket but Rev. Gates spilled a catch at mid off.

Rupert's spell came to an end, so Neven turned to PRT's prodigal son, Scott Males to continue the assault up the slope. With the wind blowing from right to left across the strip, this aided Males' natural swing to completely perplex Purnell on a number of occasions. As Branksome's main man passed his 50, with their score on 75, he was proving the key to their innings. Luckily for Triangle, Males was still causing him problems, and it was a stroke of luck which yielded his wicket as the ball popped up off a length, and Males scampered to hold on to a valuable catch.

Dicko was still ploughing a lone furrow down the slope, and it came as no surprise when the Captain asked him to have a rest, bringing back Trevett to mop up the tail. With Scott picking up wickets at the other end, Branksome stumbled towards the century mark, including the wicket of Ian Tubbs who skied a catch to the safe hands of Morris. Trevett then wrapped up the innings and the points bowling out 10 and "Jack" in consecutive deliveries, causing the non-striking batsmen to hurl his bat in frustation, as Trevett notched up a well-deserved five wickets and the honour of buying a jug.