The pitch offered a bit early for the bowlers. The Willows, which included six Marlborough Boys’ College alumni, were inserted. Joel Pannell quickly removed both openers. The current Marlborough Hawke Cup captain, Matthew Stretch, joined Scott McHardy and the two set about rebuilding the innings. After McHardy was out for 34, Brent Fleming joined Matthew and the two put on 109 runs for the 5th wicket. The Willows posted a respectable 199/5 off their 40 overs.

As the innings drew to an end, Stretch was also closing in on a century. With a single required off the last ball of the innings to reach three figures, unfortunately the ball sailed through to the keeper leaving Stretch stranded on 99 not out. Over the lunch break, in a very good gesture of sportsmanship, the Boys’ College opening bowler Joel Pannell, agreed that Stretch had got an under-edge on an attempted “scoop shot” that had been credited as 4 byes. The umpires and scorers agreed to make the change and Matthew Stretch received due credit for a deserved century.

In reply, two excellent partnerships of 61 between Tim Petrie and Tom Leonard and then 85 between Petrie and Joel Pannell took Marlborough to the brink of victory, before they both fell to a couple of excellent catches by Kobe Stackhouse. Ten were needed from the final over but The Willows were able to close out the win. An exciting finish to a great day. Special mention to our match day host, Phil d’Auvergne, who has had a major influence in the development of many Marlborough cricketers over the past four decades. It was great to see large number of parents and supporters making the trip down. This included Barry Roberts, one of the great characters of Marlborough cricket, who came to support his grandson Connor. It was great to catch up with “Bottles”.