The final match was at St Augustines, a club founded in 1899 and one of the oldest in Cape Town and the club where Basil d'Oliveria played his early cricket before coming to England and playing for England and in 1969 being a significant issue that led to the sporting isolation of South Africa.
Bancroft's batted first and saw an opening partnership of 179 between Nigel Jacob and Tom Hartington. Nigel anxious as ever about emulating his hero Sachin Tendulkar deciding that as Tendulkar had just scored a century in the India v South Africa test match he had better do the same and in so doing more than double his run count for the tour. His 101 and Tom's excellent 82 ( he was finally bowled through sheer exhaustion in the heat!) were the foundation of Bancroft's 259 for 5 in 45 overs. In reply St Augustine's managed 162 all out - Neville Jacob taking 4 for 45 off 9 overs and Nigel Jacob 3 for 20 off 5. The St Augustine's team did not play their spin well.
During their innings we had the news that our flight for Wednesday had been cancelled. JGB spent some time on the phonbe to have this confirmed and also the fact that we would be travelling home on Christmas Eve with an early Christmas Day arrival. The tour company in London quickly arranged hotel accommodation for the two additional nights and also booked a coach for our use. The Bursar's office set about advising parents and rescheduling our coach pick up at Heathrow.
Any initial disappointment from the team soon disappeared at the thought of an additional two days in Cape Town!
That evening the planned final meal for the tour took place at Nelson's Eye restaurant, one of the premier steakhouses in Cape Town. All ate a large meal but the prize goes to Dan Willoughby for his successful demolition of a 650 gram rump steak! It was quite a feat and sight!
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