Another beautiful summer day at The Willows. SBHS skipper Carl Hooper (junior) won the toss and under instruction from Dave Grocott elected to bat. After the initial shock, The Willows XI put down their cups of Dilmah, finished their crackers and cheese and got the whites on ready for the day.

We started very strongly with Tim Grocott solid from one end and Nigel Marsh nipping it around at the other. Rod Hooper continued with a bustling spell including the prize scalp of his son! At one stage SBHS were 31/5 and then 61/6. To SBHS credit they dug in and didn’t give their wicket away. Tom McDonald batted well with the middle and lower order and they made it through to 148. All Willows bowlers bowled consistently well throughout the innings with wickets shared.

In reply we started positively with Connor Arnold and Mark Reid taking to the SBHS opening attack. With the first wicket falling at 62 we should have cruised to victory, however, a consistent loss of wickets saw us at 138/8 and still requiring 11 to win with the noose starting to tighten. Ryan James bowled particularly well and was difficult to play. We made it through in the end with Dan Vedder and Rod Hooper at the crease.

So a close victory against a spirited SBHS side still searching for a win against The Willows. As a proud old boy I am glad I wasn’t the skipper to concede.