In a tight encounter, The Willows took on Otago Boys’ in an early season fixture which OBHS have tended to dominate over recent years. The Willows batted first and were made to work hard on a low and slow pitch which offered little excitement for either side. Fraser Hill, opening the batting with Peter Dobbs, made an industrious start, with Hill going on to make 59. His main support came from Chris Harris with The Willows falling just shy of what should have been an adequate total of 200 at the end of the 50th over.

Over the second innings, both sides would show how to win, and then lose, and then win, and then lose a game of cricket. The Willows bowlers strayed at times, and some lapses of concentration in the field kept the Otago lads in the game. Jeremy Benton was given the unenviable task of bowling the final over, needing either a wicket, or to restrict the visitors to less than 6 runs from the over in order for The Willows to take the spoils. To their credit, numbers 10 and 11 showed great patience and maturity, and did what was required to knock off the runs with one ball to spare.