After a losing effort last year to St Bede’s The Willows team was motivated to turn the tide. We won the toss at Jaguar Oval and elected to bowl as it looked like the wicket would have a bit in it early. That turned out to be the case. Cody Campbell, Chris Mugford and Blake Doherty had St Bede’s on the back foot at 32 for 3 off 15 overs.

Then a brilliant partnership of 105 was put together by Jackson Hemingway and Felix Benny-Steele. Jackson batted very aggressively and rode his luck, but as per the saying who dares wins. Spin was introduced into the attack and Fraser Hill bowled both Jackson and Felix. From this point St Bede’s never got going again and went from 137 for 4 to 174 all out in the final over.

The Willows were very confident chasing the score, and I was honoured to give the opening duties to the father and son combo of Fraser and Callum Hill. They certainly didn’t disappoint and their partnership was well over 100. Callum hit the ball brilliantly all around the wicket and we enjoyed watching him on the balcony make it to his hundred.