After last year’s fixture against Marlborough Boys’ College was rained off, both teams were keen to get underway this year. It didn’t look very promising with heavy rain leading up to the game, however blue skies and sunshine greeted the teams.

Marlborough Boys’ College won the toss, their captain Matthew Stretch had much pleasure asking his Dad and The Willows to bat first.

An excellent opening partnership between former Marlborough Boys’ College Head Boy, Scott McHardy and Adam Hastilow put on 64. Ben Blair came to the crease at first drop and stroked the ball round the wicket and showed he hadn’t lost any of his cricket skills while living in Wales, eventually scoring 52, the highest individual score of the game. Left arm seamer, Leo Adendorff bowled well for Marlborough Boys’ picking up three wickets by keeping the ball full on a slow wicket.

The Willows were comfortable with the score at the end of the 50 overs but were aware they needed a top effort in the field.

Chris Pope opened up for The Willows with a great spell of 2/3 from six overs to put the brakes on the Boys innings and they never really got underway from there. Adam Hastilow completed a good double with three wickets while Les Humphris finished the innings off with three wickets off four eventful overs. Top scorer for Marlborough Boys’ was opener Fraser McIntosh. In the end, it was a reasonably comfortable win to The Willows.

Thanks again to everyone at The Willows who made such a wonderful day so special. It was a great privilege to be captain of The Willows against the team that I also coach.