The Willows won the toss and batted first. Waitaki’s eight bowlers restricted The Willows to 157 which could have been less if Nigel de Maine and Andrew Nuttall had not put on 50 in their unbeaten eighth wicket stand. The Willows got off to a steady start with openers Henry Winchester and Rhys Petrie (one of this year’s Matfen scholars) putting on 30 for the first wicket, but then the home team were pinned down by accurate Waitaki bowling and the regular loss of wickets. Ewings ten overs went for just 14, James seven overs for 21, Kinzett nine overs for 27 and Stirling eight overs for 10, all keeping The Willows total under pressure.

But what was to come was a sensational spell of bowling by Arsh Singh who took five wickets for 13 runs (four bowled which supports the bowling mantra of “you miss I hit”) from his eight overs. Waitaki never recovered and were all out for 55 in 21 overs. Lachie Stove, the other Matfen Scholar, grabbed three wickets including the leg before of the Waitaki Coach Francois Mostert. Lance Ryan cleaned up the tail (his target market) and The Willows below par score was enough.