With a strong wind blowing from the sheep-and-cattle end, Wade Cornelius put London New Zealand under pressure from the start. He extracted such bounce and pace from a placid Willows pitch that wicketkeeper Dan Chisholm needed all his youthful agility to prevent byes. One batsman was heard to say that since his wife was expecting a baby at any moment he would be grateful if Cornelius would pitch the ball up. The ever obliging Cornelius did so and bowled him for a duck. But at least the child will not be an orphan.

With LNZ at 70 for 6, the wind died down, Cornelius retired to the boundary and Messrs Kennedy and Gray accumulated runs. After lunch Cornelius returned to terrify the tail and gain a five­ wicket bag and LNZ were all out for 175.

In the best Willows tradition, Darrin Murray, former test player, opened the innings with the boisterous Robert Miller, in order for the experienced player to pass on his skills to the young. Murray quickly passed on the skill of spooning a return catch to the bowler but Miller refused to learn the lesson. He went on to score 79 and thus supplied the backbone to the Willows innings. But with the next highest individual score being 13 this was a backbone which lacked vertebrae.

The wily LNZ bowlers, of whom some bowled slow off-spin and the rest slower off-spin, invited Willower after Willower to self­ destruct, and one by one we accepted the invitation. When Miller was caught behind the score stood at 128 for 7. Lyn Sparks and Wade Cornelius sought to club us to victory, but an assortment of Hudsons took remarkable catches in the outfield and the Willows were all out for 150.

Assistant groundsman Dormer presented the London New Zealand captain with the trophy and the Willows captain with notice of execution, effective immediately. And then we all drank some beer.