Plans for the new Toft pavilion are afoot, with a big drive planned to raise up to a million pounds to get it off the ground. However, on a summery Sunday at Toft, the old place shimmered in sunlight, packed with punters, as the Toft fourth XI locked horns with an experienced Wilmslow side.

Due to injury, a new captain has been appointed for Toft, at the behest of a stricken Phil Berry. Andrew Jackson is the new man, in the hope his frequent messaging of support to the team would bear fruit in turning in decent performances and a resurgence of form.

In his first act as full-time skipper, Jackson won the toss and immediately inserted the opposition on a green strip. James McNamara has been excelling in net practice, steaming in with pace and promise. So Jackson patted him on the back and asked him to open the bowling with the reliable Simon Donald.

In the opening over, the visitors lost a wicket to an appalling run out, then Donald cleaned up his opening partner cheaply. Toft were sitting pretty, believing the bar was beckoning before the scheduled finish time. However, an individual only known as Amith then came to the crease, who was a fine player. He was able to play his shots but needed a sturdy partner with him, which wasn’t forthcoming.

Jackson turned to experience in the shape of Chris Bongard, who had turned down playing at a higher level to make hay. He bowled nicely despite some erratic deliveries, and the scoring was well under control. Lowit Gowdra and James McKenna were also introduced, who kept one end tight, as Amith continued to accumulate. Bongard & Gowdra both collected wickets for their endeavors, but Amith remained a troublesome customer as he passed 50.

Pete Gibbon has been an influential addition to the fourth team in recent months, following his exile from Northwich Cricket Club. Gibbon picked up 2 wickets in a seven-over spell of control which was important to put Toft into a winning position. When Amith was run out for a wonderful 87, it was left to Alex Davies to grab the glory with his first wicket for the club, as the visitors closed on 142-8 from their 40 overs.

During the interval, a fidgety Jackson fretted & fussed over his batting line-up, and decided to face the music himself. His partner was newcomer Steve Barlow, who was playing his last game of the summer before an operation the following morning.

Barlow’s sizeable frame perished early, keen to get under the surgeon’s knife, whilst Jackson dissected the opening bowlers with precision to give Toft a solid start. Prest offered some resistance too, playing a couple of glorious strokes before joining a nervous Barlow at the bar for 20.

Next in was Phil Raffo, who joined his captain leg-weary after a long run the day before. Jackson was left aghast at Raffo’s inexplicable choice of stroke as a wild swipe across the line saw him depart for just two. McNamara strode in next, who was thirsty for runs after a series of inconsistent performances with the bat. At the other end, Jackson had raced into the forties and keen to convert his score into a match-winning one.

Jackson fell agonisingly short for a swashbuckling 49 to a questionable LBW decision, leaving McNamara to slake his thirst for runs alone and made a commendable 21. Donald, an ever-present for the team made 11, and newcomer Gowdra (0) offered little resistance, despite his best efforts.

A final partnership was required to guide Toft home, as McKenna (15*) guided the tail home along with Bongard (6*) against a tightening field. Men due in at 10 & 11 anxiously scrambled to find their pads in a disorganised, fragrant dressing room, open for the first time in months.

The plans for the new pavilion to mark the club’s centenary are incredibly exciting but rest assured on a balmy June afternoon, there is life in the old dog yet.