Skipper Paul Balenzano won the toss and elected to bat in perfect conditions with the player comfort reading steady at 50. Both openers were enjoying some loose bowling before a twisted knee prematurely stopped Scott Hulbert at 15.

Sam Harrison (4) fell to a short ball and three balls later Julian Hulbert (0) was caught at gully with the score at 2/35.

Nick ‘lucky Phil’ Hopper and Jack Casey steadied the ship for the next 30 overs put on 113 runs for the third wicket. At tea the magpies were looking solid at 2/138. In the first 10 overs after tea we lost Jack Casey for a well compiled and elegant 47, Simon Noble (0), Nick Hopper (75) and Billy Mills (8) and at 6/169 we had lost some direction and were cursing the tea interval.

A lovely cameo by the destructive Maurice Hulbert (52no) with steady support from Louis Balenzano (9), Dale Leslie (10) and Paul Balenzano (2no) enabled a declaration at 8/242 with 30 minutes of play left in the day.

Opening bowers Julian Hulbert and Louis Balenzano made life very difficult for Nana Glen openers bowling a tight line and making the batsmen play at every delivery, except one huge inswinger from Julian Hulbert that was “well left” and cannoned into the off stump.

Next week Nana Glen will resume at 1/5 chasing 243 for victory but with the magpies swooping anything but a victory for Bellingen seems unlikely.