It was a tribute to the management of the combined secondary schools side that had toured Sri Lanka earlier in the season that 12 of the 13 players were able to reassemble from various parts of New Zealand for this game. Conditions were ideal for the match with the ground again beautifully presented.

Batting first, the Combined Schools’ total of 260 for 7 was based around 66 retired from A Fletcher and a very aggressive knock of 77 from M Collins. While The Willows bowlers stuck to their task, no one was able to penetrate their sound technique. Best of the bowlers were medium pacer Willie Lonsdale and young spinner Braden Lawry.

Chasing this total The Willows were on target with a 145 run second wicket partnership between Hamish Teale and Fraser Hawes. These two kept the run rate turning over nicely, but when Teale was out for 97, The Willows batsmen found runs difficult to come by as the Combined bowlers bowled a very good length to restrict the scoring. As the overs ticked by The Willows found themselves 12 runs shy at the end of the 50th. Teale’s 97 was an innings of class, as was the 52 struck by Hawes. On the day, however, it was the younger side who had displayed the better temperament to win the game.

Special thanks to the umpires and to the scorer Tony Campbell. Another fabulous day at The Willows where “cricket was the winner.”