With a quick gaze at the track and a handshake the toss was secured and The Willows were batting first.

From the first ball of the day the wickets tumbled. Tom Rutherford of Otago Boys’ took 7/20 off his 10 – the most wickets ever taken by a visiting student.

With a very modest 54 the opening attack of Lonsdale and Peacock put pressure on Otago Boys’ High and at 3 for 16 we believed we might be in with a chance. A partnership ensued and steadily Otago Boys’ made its way to a comfortable victory after 30 overs.

Given this early finish we set up an afternoon of cricket in which the home team performed to a much better standard.