Our 2020/21 defence of the Kindred Cup started in a similar fashion to the previous two seasons, with conference losses to both United Country & Vineyards, and Hawkswood Wanderers. However, another dominant performance in Wellington at the finals weekend, saw The Willows team take out the national Kindred competition for the third consecutive season.
The Dave Clouston-led United Country & Vineyards made their first trip to Loburn this season after the 2019 match was abandoned due to rain. Batting first, The Willows scored a disappointing 130 off our 40 overs. Typically tight Vineyards bowling put us under too much pressure, and after a tidy start our middle order collapsed offering little resistance. Vineyards knocked our total off with only two down to draw first blood in the 2021 Kindred season.
After a very similar result against Hawkswood, having won none of its conference matches, The Willows was fortunate that it qualified fifth for the Kindred Cup finals weekend, solely due to being the reigning champion. However, it was a determined and well-balanced side that turned out at Karori Park.
First up on the Friday in what was essentially a knock-out quarter final, we played Greytown Cricket Club from the Wairarapa. Greytown are probably the most social of the Kindred teams; however, it was a magnificent 95 not out from Wellington based Jimad Khan followed up by 4/21 from the evergreen Stan Woolliscroft, that secured the win for The Willows.
In the subsequent semi final we were up against the North Bombay Cricket Club, led by Willower Matt Wright. Wright was the pick of the North Bombay batsmen scoring 44 out of his teams 139. Pick of our bowlers was Chris Mugford with 5/33. We got off to a rollicking start scoring 88 of our first 11 overs, and reaching the North Bombay total in 18. Stylish knocks of 44 and 37 from Maulik Patel and Rob Dunne provided the backbone of our innings.
And so it was into our third consecutive Kindred final, an all South Island affair, against United Country & Vineyards once again. It was about now that in previous years we were scraping together eleven able bodied players still able to run; however, this year we were blessed with a large squad and it became a difficult decision who to leave out.
Winning the toss, Vineyards chose to bat first backing their bowlers to defend whatever total they put up. Fortunately, The Willows was up to the challenge and a great start by last years tournament team selections, Chris Nicholson and Adam Hastilow, had Vineyards 23/4 after only five overs. A middle order revival however saw them through to 139, a total that can be competitive in a final. However, The Willows openers did it again and we were 97 from nine overs before the first wicket fell. 52 from Maulik Patel and 39 from Tim McConnell got us off to a great start and from there the win was in little doubt, passing Vineyards total in the 15th over.
Thanks should go to Kent Currie of Seddon Cricket Club for again organising a fantastic weekend, and to Karori Cricket Club for their hosting. Congratulations to Maulik Patel for his selection in the tournament team, and to all The Willows players who represented the club so well again this year, particularly those new to the club.