During the VB series this summer from Australia cricket fans were aghast when a simple spooned catch went untouched. In this match we had three or four like that! Top edges soared skyward and Willowers with seniority were quick to utter “yours”. The poor soul nearest (or slowest to evade) ended pirouetting and circling about as the ball fell unclutched to the grass. The sun, the swirling easterly, laughter and plaintive cries of “where’s the keeper?” were feeble excuses for failure to lay a hand on the ball.

Otherwise this was a clinical Willows performance. The Nelson boys, on their first outing at Loburn, had a difficult assignment. Not only did they have to bat first on a green-top but they faced a powerful Willows eleven.

Prior to lunch Nelson never got the run rate above two per over. Doug McMillan, who opted to bowl his ten overs on the trot, was the meanest; his overs yielding only 12 runs and one wicket.

After a luncheon regroup and rethink, captain Spencer Tait led from the front. He came out as runner for an injured N. Ludbrook and implored the batsmen to run better between the wickets. In a late flurry Ludbrook hit the ball well for 43 not out. A tally of 148/7 looked thin and so it proved.

Opener Mark Landon-Lane steered the Willows to a comfortable victory. In an elegant innings of 92 not out he enjoyed two match-winning partnerships; first with David Mills (29) and an unbeaten one with Paul McEwan 22 not out.

Nelson College 1st XI were a young side that will benefit from playing the Willows. At the end of the game their players received some tips about batting and bowling from the ex-first class cricketers in our side.

Finally, back to catching. There had been one moment of pure magic in the field. Brendon Diamanti took an exquisite diving catch that would rank with the best of the season. It left old hands sighing and thanking the lord it didn’t come in their direction!