With five spinners and a hot day forecast the plan was to bowl first so The Willows were not fielding in the heat of the day. At lunch 39 overs had been bowled and Waitaki had scored 166. After lunch Waitaki’s Thomas Hutton continued to plunder The Willows bowling as he did in last year’s match (where he scored 75 not out) to carry his bat through to be 130 not out this year. Thomas is leaving Waitaki so will not be back to continue his not out innings which is a relief to The Willows bowlers. At the end of their innings Waitaki had scored 264 for the loss of nine wickets.

Stan Wooliscroft, Patrick Croker and Will O’Brien (The Willows scholarship recipient this year) each took two wickets and there were three run outs. Stan opened the bowling with his leggies and had only 12 runs taken from his 10 overs.

The Willows innings was off to a flyer with Tim McConnell scoring his 59 from the first 13 overs which set the scene for a superb third wicket partnership of 187 between Riley Wilson and Nic Hill. Riley, who scored 53 not out last year, retired after reaching his hundred and Nic carried his bat to be 71 not out when The Willows passed the Waitaki score with four overs to spare.

Two centuries, 530 runs and the sporting recall of the Waitaki opener R Petrie (who went on to make 60) by Tim McConnell made it another outstanding day’s cricket at The Willows.