AFTER three days in which visiting cricketers might have qualified for Honorary Fellowships at the Polar Research Institute - five minutes' walk from Fenner's - play eventually started after the loss of more than eight consecutive sessions to sleet, hail and yesterday's freezing squalls.

Even then, only 15.5 afternoon overs proved possible, but time enough for freshman Jon Lowe's inswinger to hit Darren Maddy's off stump as the ball moved lavishly in taxing conditions. Sri Lankan seamer Prakash Schaffter, equally threatening with wicketkeeper Malcolm Birks standing up, had Vince Wells dropped on five.