The first game at The Willows took place in 1994 and was against Christ’s College. We walloped them. I kept wicket and was repeatedly hit on the shins.

In 2011 we walloped Christ’s College again. I didn’t keep wicket because of decrepitude but if I had I’d have been repeatedly hit in the stomach. Which only goes to show what a wonderful job the groundsmen have done over the intervening 17 years.

The Christ’s College captain won the toss on a hot day and took the morally reprehensible decision to bat. Perhaps his team needed a rest after the hour of warm-ups that I have never understood the purpose of.

The track was what is generally known as a belter. The Willows had a keen young side but no regular bowlers apart from Willie Lonsdale, and even he, after an early wicket, found his teeth blunted by the conditions. The runs piled up, with three of the College top four getting fifties. The visitors were no doubt delighted to get 280 for 5. But we weren’t that unhappy either.

For The Willows, Andrew McCracken got a quick and exquisite 30, Chris McGoldrick ditto, then Paul Duncan came in and whacked it everywhere. After he retired for 101, at better than a run a ball, a few wickets fell in cavalier fashion but a repeat of the 1994 result was assured. I would like to record my thanks to Sam Deans who strolled out at number 10 and walloped his first and only ball to the fence. He thus not only won the game but also saved his captain from the embarrassment of having to bat.

A very happy day all round, followed by an hour of warm-downs, at $2 a can.