The game was played in the All Stars preferred format of a ten-over first innings followed by a thirty-over second innings. Batting first, the All Stars scored a competitive 74 for five and Hawkley in reply sent out Henry Batten and John Dinnis who batted with aggression and judgement before falling near the end of the innings leaving Hawkley well placed on 73 for 2.

With the game equally poised the All Stars started their second innings with a flurry of boundaries before the Hawkley bowlers found a tight line and reined in the free-scoring batsmen. Huntley got an initial breakthrough when Pike steered the ball to point, to bring former Hawkley player Drew Norris to the wicket who together with Williams accelerated the scoring rate again. Williams reached his personal fifty before edging Hudson to behind where Hibberd gratefully accepted the chance. Wickets then fell regularly, Batten doing most damage with 2 for 25, although Norris continued to score freely to finish unbeaten on 80 out of an All Stars total of 185 for 5.

Hawkley again opened with the ubiquitous Henry Batten, partnered this time by Brad Kneller. Batten led the way, bludgeoning the bowling to all parts of the ground and hitting one of the biggest sixes seen at Hawkley before losing his wicket to Norris for 34. Having played a supporting role to Batten, Brad Kneller then took charge and played some delightful drives as the Hawkley score mounted. After Mullard was out for 9, John Dinnis joined Kneller and the two batted with great purpose until Kneller was caught two short of a well-deserved fifty. Hudson joined Dinnis with fifty needed off the last eight overs and together they kept up with the scoring rate until Drew Norris came on to bowl with three overs to go and produced a maiden to deal a fatal blow to Hawkley’s hopes. Hawkley battled on but fell agonisingly short of the target after what had been an excellent afternoon’s cricket.

Hawkley’s focus is now on the hotly-contested local derby against Steep, which is played at Hawkley next Sunday.