Sunday 16 February 2003 began in earnest for me at 1 0:40am when I received a call on my cell phone while crossing the Ashley River in my mad dash to get to the ground on time. On the other end of the line was Mike Dormer, requesting I accept the captaincy for the days game. Unbeknown to me, Paul McEwan had earlier declined the same request, which may have had some bearing on my ultimate decision (albeit hasty) to accept. The significance of my captaincy acceptance was not realized until I reached the ground and was handed the Willows team list. The selectors had provided a team full of non bowlers, part timers and two promising youngsters Ben Brook a right arm medium pacer from Christ’s College and Richard Abbott a left arm spinner from North Canterbury.

The toss was made and lost by me with Nelson College reversing tradition and electing to bat. My first dilemma, who to use in the bowling department. A call for volunteers, “Cometh the hour, cometh the men” in the shape of two wily veterans by the names of Richard Hayward and Paul McEwan. The other volunteer was Mark Lane a keeper of some repute, with latent bowling talent and the self-professed reputation of the “best net bowler” in the Lancaster Woolston Cricket Club. This reputation was enough to convince his Captain to allow him a 10 over stint at the bowling crease.

The bowling blend of youth and experience managed to strangle the scoring rate of the Nelson College batsmen, who did not help their cause by failing to develop partnerships and lacked aggression in their stroke play and running between the wickets. Four batsmen exceeded 20 runs, but none passed 40, with the other six failing to reach double figures. Nelson were dismissed for 1 40, with the chief destroyer being Richard Abbott with 5/32 from his 1 0 overs, ably supported by Ben Brook with 2/21 from 1 0, Paul McEwan 2/23from 10, Mark Lane 1/29from 10 and the other opening bowler Richard Hayward with 0/27 from his 10 on the trot into the wind.

The other highlight of our fielding was the five dismissals by David Bond behind the stumps with three stumpings and two catches.

David’s contribution did not end there, as he was extremely reluctantly press-ganged into opening our batting and almost single-handed carried us to victory with a bludgeoning century which included 18 boundaries to all parts of the ground. lt was a marvellous innings to cap a decisive day for David and the Willows team. The target was achieved with only one wicket lost and an early barbecue was enjoyed by all (particularly by a relieved victorious captain).