Day 2 Victoria 2nd XI 83 for 4 (Kirby 2 for 38) trail ECB National Academy XI 247 all out (Wagh 74*, Schofield 49, Bell 48, Fleming 5 for 36) by 164 runs Warwickshire's Mark Wagh and Yorkshire's Steve Kirby have hogged the limelight on one of the grandest of all stages, the MCG, as England's Academy side take on Victoria's 2nd XI in a four-day game. Wagh gave an accomplished performance with the bat, making 74 not out. Kirby then produced a cameo with the ball to give the Academy a sniff of victory.

Rodney Marsh's charges were put in to bat, and were in trouble at 15 for 2, before two of England's most trumpeted young batsmen, Wagh and Ian Bell (48), dug in. England's innings was finally snuffed out at 247, a decent score against an attack that included the Australian Test bowler Damien Fleming, who took 5 for 36. Once Bell had been removed only Chris Schofield, the other man on the field with Test experience, reached double figures, making 49.

Victoria made a stumbling start to their reply, losing their first two wickets before they reached 30. England's flame-haired Yorkshireman, Steve Kirby, then grabbed centre-stage. He fired out Andrew McDonald for 29 and David Hussey for 1, as a stumble began to look like a collapse. Victoria closed on an un-Australian 83 for 4.

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