All the ingredients for a Willows classic came together in what will go down as one of the most memorable days in the history of the club. Skipper Matt Parr, in his 25th season for the club had assembled one of the more competitive sides in recent years including two former All Blacks in Aaron Mauger and Colin Slade, current HSOBCC opening bowler Harrison Cox, and a solid core of Old Boys’ including the likes of Matt Farrant and 2013 captain and New Zealand Under 19 player, Jeremy Benton. The day 5 wicket still looked to have plenty of runs in it and both sides were keen to have a bat to post a total. CBHS skipper called correctly at the toss and chose to set.

Cox and Farrant were slippery early, with keeper Mark Reid and the cordon having to take a couple of extra paces back. An early knick was missed at second slip, bursting through the flayling hand of Parr who never really saw it fizz past and through to the ropes. My word how costly that drop would become.

The Boys’ High openers of Harry O’Loughlin and Callum Sampson raced to 77 in 12 overs before a break through came from the flight and guile of Benton trapping Sampson in front. The brakes were applied with tidy spells from Chris Nicolson (3-40), Kelvin Scott (2/48) and CBHS emerging talent, Henroux Wessels saw the school boys floundering at 114 for 7. Holding his own and making steady progress was Year 11, O’Loughlin who was in desperate need of someone to stay with him. Jack Dry did exactly that, coming to the crease under all sorts of pressure in the 22nd over. The pair absorbed everything the Willows could throw at them batting through the innings. Dry played an excellent support role to O’Loughlin finishing 39 not out but O’Loughlin produced one of the most incredible schoolboy performances ever produced. Batting with maturity, the classy left hander raised the bat for his hundred where the compulsory retirement was abandoned. From there he simply went from strength to strength, pummelling the bowlers all around the ground hitting 22 boundaries and 7 maximums to make history by making the first ever double hundred at the ground. School finished their 50 overs, still 7 down for 317 which included a 203 run partnership for the 8th wicket.

The chase was never going to be easy but on a good wicket and a lightning outfield there was a chance if the Willow’s batted well. And bat well they did! A few early wickets saw the Willows behind the eight ball early at 3/51 in the 12th over before an excellent partnership between the two former AB’s got some momentum going. Slade, a Year 10 1st XI cricketer at CBHS himself, batted beautifully to score a run a ball 42. Mauger, picking up the bat for the first time in a few years, showed class is most definitely permanent, hitting 12 fours and 3 sixes to take himself to 91 of as many deliveries. When he fell at 182 in the 32nd over, the game looked to be swinging back towards the visitors. Benton and Nicolson were up for it though and took on the bowling as they managed to keep the asking rate around 10 per over through the back end of the chase. Benton made sure he took the game deep scoring an excellent 64 while at the other end, Nicolson was belligerent, smacking 65 off 46 balls to make what seems an unlikely chase, a real chance. When Nicolson fell in the penultimate over, there was just a little too much to do for the new men coming in. Nick Smith the best of the CBHS bowlers, closed out the final over beautifully finishing his spell with 3 for 33 and ensuring the Willows side weren’t able to pull of the win, falling just 4 runs shy of what would have been the biggest successful run chase in history.

In all, an incredible day of cricket which epitomised everything the Willows is about. Competitive and hard fought with both sides up to get the result. A wonderful test for Boys’ High who will soon be off to have a crack at the holy grail of schoolboy cricket – The Gillette Cup. They will have learned a huge amount from the day and this match will serve them well in December. Finally, to have nearly 640 runs scored in a day highlights the incredible work that Ben and the grounds team have put into the facilities at the Oval. It was an absolute privilege to be involved in this match, and to those Willowers who may not have been out to play recently, I strongly suggest you get out there to enjoy what is on offer – it is hard to beat!