The visitors, captained by Ross Bayliss won the toss and invited The Willows to field.

Paul O’Oonnell and Hamish Loe opened the bowling with Mark Landon-Lane behind the stumps. The Willows bowling was steady and with good fielding restricted the run-rate. Both Hamish Loe and Christian Cunneen bowled well, taking a wicket apiece. Michael Hastings took 4/26 off 8 avers with his Captain not giving him the chance for a 5 wicket bag (hope he can be forgiven!). Some eight bowlers were used to restrict the runs and both Michael Peacock and Kevin Ward bowled their spinners effectively. The visitors managed 202 runs in their 50 avers with the loss of 8 wickets thanks to a patient and well-compiled innings of 75 by opener Bernard Fanning.

Jeremy lnnes and Michael Newel! opened the batting for The Willows. lnnes was somewhat reluctant to open but his captain suggested it was a good day to make a century. Mark Landon-Lane soon joined lnnes at the wicket and they produced a valuable partnership of 104 runs, before Landon-Lane was out for 62.

Michael Peacock, with an unbeaten partnership of 92 with Jeremy lnnes, saw The Willows home in the 35th over with the loss of only 3 wickets. Michael Peacock finished with 1 7 not out, and Jeremy lnnes finished ten runs short of his century on 90 not out; an attractive innings.

The Miller Family hastily fired-up the barbeque and our Match Manager, Peter Nancarrow dealt with the formalities and presentations admirably with his usual good charm. Jeremy lnnes and Bernard Fanning won the Player of the Day for their respective teams and the ‘Ciarrie Anderson’ Trophy was regained by The Willows.

It was a most enjoyable day’s cricket, played on a good wicket in excellent surroundings.

Many thanks to the Umpires, Messrs. T Mclisky and B Malloch, and to Nigel Coates, our Scorer for the day.

It was a pleasure to captain the side.