Glad to be back to the Shield games for us people with long attention spans.
Bluebaggers and Sandgropers pulled off upsets while the bananabenders have kept themselves in contention.
WA looked in strife all game but thanks to Mackin they were able to pull it out of the fire.
Despite all that, the Vics and the Croweaters remain the top two spots.
Batting
Vic Harris 502, Dean 449
SA Cooper 449, Weatherald 428
Qld Labuschagne 449, Khawaja 432
NSW Cowan 471, Patterson 443
WA Turner 486, Wells 394
Tas Bailley 440, Webster 325
Harris the first to reach 500 despite a poor game, Turner still the leading WA bat, Cowan now leading NSW after his double ton, Khawaja still second for Qld despite only playing half the games.
Bailey being a one man band for the apple eaters.
Bowling
Vic Holland 31, Tremain 27
SA Sayers 38, Richardson 26
Qld George 17, Feldman 15
NSW Somerville 17, Copeland 17
WA Mackin 28, Agar 16
Tas Bird 18, Stevenson 17
Sayers continuing his good season, with 9 wickets, Richardson also took 9, they took 18 of the 20 wickets between them.
Mackin has starred again with 12 wickets,23 in last two games, to be the only Non Vic or SA bowler in the top 6
Holland cleaned up the NSW tail to become Vics leading bowler.
Somerville now has 17 wickets for the Bluebaggers becoming the second spinner to be the leading wicket taker for his state
Qld won despite neither of their two leading wicket takers playing.
So looking forward
Vics are missing their pacers with Tremain, Hastings, Siddle and Pattinson out.
Croweaters batting still letting them down
Qld's punching above their weight, the bowling doesn't look very strong,
Sandgropers batting is letting them down, Mackin deserves a medal !
NSW are looking good for a strong second half
The Apple eater's batting has been weak and the bowling, especially without Bird, doesn't look very strong either.
Next round starts 10th Feb