Match summary from Arundel

After winning the toss, we chose to bat on what looked like an excellent pitch in the beautiful surrounds of Arundel Castle. Two quick wickets fell to the bowling of Charlie Freeston, before Jonathan Wells and David Dawson put together a solid partnership. Jonathan fell for 55, an encouraging start on his first visit to the crease. More wickets fell as we were tied down by the slow left arm bowling of Hampshire spinner Chris Morgan, but Dawson was joined by Greg Ward in an excellent stand, with Dawson bringing up his hundred off 173 balls. Ward finished with a rapid half century, and we decided to decare with an hour left in the day to have some overs at the MCC batsmen before the close.

Adam Griffith and Nathan Wegman opened up at a lively pace, and Griffith struck early, removing Derbyshire batsmen Gary Ballance with a lifting delivery. Coming on earlier than usual, Xavier Doherty had England U19 batsman Ben Wright bowled off his first delivery. Despite some uncomfortable moments, particularly off the pacey bowling of Wegman, Ali and Shankar saw the home side through to the close, finishing the day on 43-2.

Thursday was an entirely different affair, with brighter weather and a faster outfield. Moeen Ali played some magnificent shots in his half century, before a harsh lbw decision ended his innings. That was the last joy we were to have for a while, as Francois du Plessis joined Shankar in a fourth wicket stand of 265. Both batted very well, and Adrian Shankar brought up his century off 183 balls with a huge hook shot off Luke Butterworth. du Plessis followed suit shortly after, and when Shankar was stumped off the bowling of Doherty, Jacques du Toit added a savage 42 from 21 balls with some big hitting. du Plessis fell short of his double hundred, and the MCC side declared on 502 for 8. Just as the openers were walking out for the second innings, the heavens opened and the remaining time in the match was washed out. The match was a good early workout for the boys, with the bowlers getting a lot of overs in their legs.