Christs College OB vs Old Boys Collegians XI, 12th Feb 2023

The Christs College Old Boys’ team was supposed to be playing a St Bede’s Old Boys team this Sunday, however, the St Bede’s team pulled out only 4 days before the match, much to the disgust of esteemed Christs College Old Boy and winemaker extraordinaire Hugo Davison. He, like many others, was very keen to roll back the years and play a game with his friends from back at school. Thankfully Hamish Anderson managed to assemble an Old Boys Collegians (OBC) side to take on the College Old Boys.

This OBC Invitational XI was made up of a mix of the top 3 OBC teams, with 3 of those players being members of the recent College Gillette Cup winning side, including Benjamin Breitmeyer, Matthew Lewis and Hamish Falls-Anderson. The OBC XI was stacked with both batting and bowling talent perhaps leaving some of the Old Boys frightened.

With the ground in superb condition as always, thanks to Ant Polson, both teams arrived in great spirits looking forward to the day of cricket ahead. The Valley of Peace has a long-standing highest score of 153* from Fred Shaw way back in the 1950s, however, with the calibre of some of the OBC batsmen it was recognised Shaw’s record may be in danger. With this in mind, Old Boys’ skipper Hugo Davison and College Old Boy Harrison Lund, who captained the OBC Invitational XI, agreed that the OBC XI shall bat first.

After an introduction to the Valley and an explanation of some local rules for those new to the ground, the game got underway with Scott Willoughby and Dylan Hunter facing up to an always deadly Hugo Davison with his two-piece Kookaburra red king in hand. There was swing aplenty for both Hugo and the other opening bowler, Charles Porter, early on but Willoughby and Hunter were equal to the task, batting conservatively and seeing off the new ball. Following a fine spell from Davison, Valley stalwart and reverse swing demon, James Thomson, was introduced into the attack and it only took Thomson 3 balls to swing one away taking Willoughby’s outside edge and carrying to the first slip.

OBC was now 29-1. Fresh off a premier hundred the day before Nic Clarke came to the crease and was dismissed soon after by a truly unplayable delivery from Porter that hooped in and clattered the off stump. Hunter then began to loosen the shackles and showed the CCOB team what he’s made of with some fine stroke play to all parts of the ground, he was well supported by Hanrahan, Hooper and Breitmeyer all contributing valuable cameos. Former Canterbury bowler Michael Davidson entered the fray and hit the ground running, dismissing Breitmeyer in his first over; at this stage, the score was at 157 for 5.

Hunter continued forth very nicely now in the 80s, and soon after brought up his hundred with a flowing drive through the covers. Dylan batted absolutely superbly and I’m sure at this stage Fred Shaw was turning in his grave expecting his record to be overtaken, however, Hunter was bowled soon after by Davidson. Michael bowled a superb spell with excellent flight, guile and changes of pace. He went on to take another 3 cleaning up the tail with some great variations, finishing with figures of 5 for 35. After being 5 for 160 I’m sure the College Old Boys’ team went into lunch happy to have restricted the OBC XI to 218 all out.

After a particularly long lunch break, where many libations were consumed in the warm afternoon sun, play got back underway. The opening batsmen may have regretted their lunchtime ales when they saw Breitmeyer and Lewis both ex-College 1st XI and Canterbury U19 seamers coming in off the long run. It didn’t take Breitmeyer long to show his class cleaning out Hugo Patterson with one that shaped away beautifully after just three balls. Fast-forward to a horrible mix up which wasn’t particularly pleasant on the eye and the score was 2 for 2.

Still euphoric after his 5-wicket bag Davidson strode to the crease and took charge seeing off the treacherous opening spells of Breitmeyer and Lewis, accumulating nicely without taking any risks and getting the CCOB team back into a competitive position. Spin was then introduced in the form of Hamish Falls-Anderson, another recent College 1st XI player, and Dylan Hunter who both bowled superbly in a partnership, with Hunter, in particular, generating some serious turn and bounce. Soon after he was rewarded with a stumping. With the score at 52 for 3, captain Hugo strode to the crease determined to put his beloved College team into a winning position getting off to a solid start with some elegant strokes through the covers.

Davidson then fell LBW to Falls-Anderson for a well compiled 41. At drinks, the OBC XI went in on top with the Old Boys at 69 for 4. With 2 wickets to Falls-Anderson in the first over after drinks it began to look like the end may have been nigh for the Old Boy’s XI with the score dwindling at 74 for 6 but Hugo continued on, batting intelligently and dispatching the loose balls well getting College to 102 before the next wicket fell the game was back on, however after Holderness and Porter fell in quick succession it looked all but over.

Hugo and Jim Blakely, back for his second innings, batted well and made a fist of the 10th wicket partnership continued on and given their fine cricketing ability the game was all but over, however, Hugo then tried to hit one into the car park and was bowled, giving the OBC Invitational XI the victory by 86 runs.

As the post-match drinks flowed many stories were shared amongst the 14 College Old Boys’ who played across the two teams, proceeded by speeches from captains Davison and Lund who both highlighted what a spectacular day it was enjoyed by all at such a special ground.

Match Report by Hamish Falls-Anderson, and match hosted by Hamish Anderson