Washington Cricket Club - 40th Anniversary Year

Matthew Cragoe reporting

Washington ended their season on a subdued note, losing a well-contested encounter with Graces by 17 runs.  It was a disappointment for retiring Wash skipper, Justin Gurney, who is returning to his native Australia after 7 years in England:  ‘We gave away too many runs, but the boys chased well and for a while it looked as if we might make it.’

The Graces had won the toss and attacked from the first. An early scalp for Chris Davis (1-37) brought Dean Stockinger to the crease, and he flayed Washington’s attack.  He racked up a pugilistic 60, and was well supported by Hope (40), Charles (45);  his departure, bowled by a Gurney (1-33) full toss, only brought in the sublime Mendes, who crafted a gorgeous 66 before edging the last ball of the innings and giving Dominic Butcher (1-28) a wicket.  Between times there were wickets for Grattan McCoach (2-46) who worked up a fair pace on a dead wicket, and a scalp for Lee Foggarty (1-28).

The target was a daunting one, short boundaries and fast outfield notwithstanding, and Washington got off to a rocky start.  Matt Cheviot (0) was bowled by a ball from Safiq that kept a little low, and then Nigel Newton-Sayerr persuaded Don Campbell (19), who looked in good touch, and Gurney (1) to hole out.

At 32-3, the chase seemed over before it had begun;  however, a brilliant partnership between Tony Burt (75) and Foggarty (41) restored Washington’s momentum and belief.  Burt was imperious, crunching anything short into the adjoining tennis courts, taking four 4s and a 6 off one Mercuri over, and Foggarty matched him stroke for stroke.  The pair added 108 before Burt was well held by Newton-Sayerr on the boundary.

Foggarty departed soon after, and McCoach was trapped lbw by a shin-high delivery, as wash lost 3 wickets for just 16 runs.

Wash, however, were not undone.  In a late, late salvo, as the late faded, Peter Kloss (29 not out) and Davis (43 not out) added an extraordinary 82 runs for the 7^th wicket: it was a brave, but ultimately unavailing performance.

So Graces claimed a double over Washington for the first time, and Wash were left to begin planning for 2007 under new leadership.

Washington:  Gurney(*), Campbell (+), Cragoe, Burt, Foggarty, McCoach, Kloss, Davies, Butcher, Gluckman.