After winning the toss, a handy Willows side looked to take advantage of a fresh wicket and overcast conditions and inserted the visitors. Right from ball one it was tough for the batsmen. Ollie Curtis and St Andrew’s schoolboy, Zac Hedgecock had the ball hooping everywhere and runs were hard to come by. Curtis striking early with a peach to Boys’ High’s ace, Challu who was unfortunate to be good enough to knick an edge and pick out the safest hands in the team in Rob Dunne who took a sharp catch just after being moved into third slip. Parr and Scott kept things pretty miserly and made the batsmen work hard for every run. Robbie Foulkes played like a true opener and kept fighting through a very tough period. A great battle between him and Willow’s stalwart Andrew Nuttall ensued with the young opener charging him first ball of the spell to deposit him over the head of mid on, one bounce, four! Nick Cooke bowled well in tandem but Foulkes continued to take on Nuttall. Unfortunately, no one else was able to stick with him and wickets fell regularly. Some were simply bamboozed by Andrew’s infamous armball while others played some wreckless shots. Nuttall had a great day out and returned with a big bag of 6/45. CBHS all out for 176.

At lunch the heavens opened up and it did not look likely there would be any further play. The covers came out. However, just as quick, the cloud parted and the sun returned to dry things out with no loss in overs. In response, Dunne and the miracle man, David Wakefield opened up and looked solid with the new ball still doing plenty. They laid a reasonable platform before wickets fell. Dunne remained until finally being run out for 40 after an awful mix up. At 111 for 6, there was still plenty of meat left on the bone. Enter Jack Harris. Batting at 7, he showed the CBHS lads exactly how to chase a total. The highlight, a six from the far side of the block onto the deck of the pavilion, straight in the front door of the club house. Somehow missing all the people and glass framed memorabilia! Skipper Matt Parr joined Harris to get The Willows across the line in the 49th over. The first win for The Willows against the boys from Straven Road since 2012.