Sunday 18th September 2011 vs Pimlico Strollers C.C.
 
Wash End on a High
 
Pimlico Strollers C.C. 201 for 9 (35 overs)
Washington C.C. 203 for 2 (27.5 overs)
 

Matthew Cragoe & Peter Kloss reporting.

Washington put the disappointments of 2011 behind them on Sunday with an impressive eight wicket victory over Pimlico Strollers. Batting all-rounder Sam Clark (72 not out) and skipper Aff Naseem shared an unbeaten stand of 129 for the third wicket to guide the Wash to an emphatic victory in their last outing of the season.

After the game, a happy Naseem said: ‘the 2012 season starts here”.
 
Wash bowled first and continued the good fielding performance of the previous week against Gardeners. Opening from the pavilion end, Clinton Dugmore (2-29) worked up a fearful head of steam that discomfited all the batsmen, but the first wicket came as a result of his excellent fielding – a direct hit from short fine leg accounting for Pimilico’s dangerous opening bat, Richardson. He then bowled superbly, and at one stage found himself on a a hat-trick, though it was not to be. 
 
At the other end, Naseem rang the changes to find the ideal partner; Peter Kloss (1-39) bowled well but without luck, and Clark (1-30) then bowled an impressively straight spell, rewarded with a wicket neatly caught behind by Shawn Hill.
 
The Strollers were scoring freely but losing wickets; at drinks they had amassed 90-4 off 20 overs. Immediately after the break they came out and smashed 19 off one over, but Mariner (0-43) and Clark reapplied the tournaquet to keep the visitors in check. Kloss returned to pick up a deserved wicket, and either side of a spell by Gary Malcom (0-43), Ash Cruickshank startled the Strollers with 2 overs of trademark slow but accurate bowling. His 'you miss, I hit' philosophy garnered him 4 wickets, three bowled. He ended with two wickets from the last two balls of his last over leaving him on a hat-trick over the winter.
 
The Strollers finished on 201 for 9 from their 35 overs, leaving Wash to chase 202 for victory.
 
Shawn Hill (8) looked like he meant to get the job done quickly, spanking a couple of glorious boundaries, but was undone by a ball which rolled after pitching, and deflected into his stump off an inside edge, via his boot.
 
Fellow opener Brian White (50), however, took up the baton, and played with his usual panache for 50, but was caught in the slips when trying to run the first ball of Connell’s spell down to third man.
 
His demise brought together Clark (72*) and Naseem (42*) for Washington’s partnership of the season. Given the number of times Wash have collapsed this term in similar situations, the performance that followed was superb. Naseem played a real capitain’s knock, keeping his head down, taking the singles that presented themselves with elegant wristy shots; Clarke built on his excellent knock last weekend, and interspersed stylish drives with raw power when occasion required. 
 
An extraordinary 33 came from one no-ball infested over, and Clarke secured a maiden 50. Fittingly, Naseem hit the winning runs.
 
After all the disappointments of 2011, to win so convincingly on the last day of the season was particularly sweet. The Wash will be looking to carry that form over into 2012.
 
Man of the Match: Sam Clark – for an excellent performance with bat and ball, and generous application of ‘healing hands’ to distressed team mates on and off the field. After the game, with the club kit all packed away, Clark demanded to review the scorebook - he promised to return it and wipe it clean so the pages didn't stick together...

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Batting
Player Runs How out
Shawn Hill 8 Bowled
Brian White 50 Caught
Aff Naseem 42* 
Sam Clark 72* 
Did Not Bat
Ash Cruickshank
Clinton Dugmore
Peter Kloss
Toby Mariner
Gary Malcolm
David Gluckman
Matthew Cragoe
Partnerships
Wkt Runs Batsmen
1 9 Shawn Hill  &  Brian White
2 65 Brian White  &  Aff Naseem
3 129 * Aff Naseem  &  Sam Clark



Fielding
Player Cts Wkt Cts Stmps
Shawn Hill - 1 -
Brian White 1 - -
Bowling
Player Overs Mdns Runs Wkts
Peter Kloss 7.0 1 39 1
Gary Malcolm 5.0 0 43 0
Toby Mariner 7.0 0 43 0
Ash Cruickshank 2.0 0 6 4
Sam Clark 7.0 0 30 1
Clinton Dugmore 7.0 1 29 2
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