As I drove through the entrance to The Willows ground my mind cast back two years earlier to The Willows last encounter with Christ’s College. Although a young side that day they were bowled out for 60 and I wondered what the day might bring on this occasion.

I am delighted to report that this side would not be bowled out for a poultry 60 runs, nor would they buckle under pressure playing against some vastly experienced players. . . . . .in fact in all honesty, they should have had a victory on this day.

However, it was not to be, thanks largely to a last wicket stand between “smoking” Joe Bennett (smoking, referring to the fact that that he was on fire and not the fact that he had consumed 40 cigarettes during the day!) and Stu Stevens, who came together still requiring 26 to reach the required 238 for victory.

Earlier in the day, The Willows were asked to field first and were unable to take early wickets. An opening stand of 52 between Henley and Mclernon and a 3rd wicket stand of 83 between Redfern and Fisher laid a tremendous foundation for College and it wasn’t until the introduction of Simon Harding and Paul McEwan that The Willows managed to get back into the match. McEwan was miserly only conceding 30 runs, while Harding recorded the best figures of 3-31 off 10 overs. Stu Stevens did take the prized wickets of both the College captain , Henry Fisher • for 81 and their second best scorer Redfern for 38. Fisher looked a classy prospect and his temperament and skill level impressed The Willows side.

Given the high temperature on the day and the renowned quick outfield, the Willows team fielded extremely well saving numerous runs, and this would be a determining factor in the match.

The Willows then prepared to do battle against an attack that had been extremely successful for the College side in the first half of the ‘schools’ competition. Left arm strike bowler Willie Lonsdale (recently selected in the NZ U 1 7 team) was impressive and showed his class early in the innings.

However, the opening pair of Tim Coop and Jeremy lnnes gave the Willows an extremely respectable stand of 87 before Coop was dismissed after lunch for 25. lnnes showed his shot-making ability during his stand of 58 with many spectators commenting on his extraordinary “timing and balance”. Paul McEwan provided a run a minute 40 in typical fashion, and at 1 53 for 4 in the 30th over the Willows looked likely for a comfortable victory.

This wasn’t to be, with some intelligent bowling by O’Gorman, Kyle, and Ward through the middle stages, College fought back. Some tremendous bowling by Lonsdale, whose last 5 avers cost just 1 0 runs, including the wicket of David Mills for 28, created pressure on the Willows side and from 200/5 leading into the last 1 0 avers, were in trouble at 216 for 9 in the 46th over.

Fortunately, the experience of ‘smoking Joe’ Bennett and Stevens carried the Willows side through to a thrilling victory.