Sunday 19th May 2002 vs Pacific C.C.
 
Brown and Evans the stars but Wash foiled at last
 
Washington C.C. 197 for 7 (43 overs)
Pacific C.C. 69 for 9 (40 overs)
 
Pacific clung on to clinch a draw against old rivals Washington on Sunday. However, it was, as Pacific's Jim Davies put it afterwards, a game that would be ‘remembered for two controversial umpiring moments'.

The first occurred when, with Washington riding high at 104-3, Pacific were convinced they had run Alan Moffat out; the second occurred right at the death when, with Pacific in toils at 67-8, Washington were convinced that they had Matt Halliday caught at the wicket. On both occasions, the the appeals were turned down.

So, fustration for the Wash, and an unfortunately controversial end to what had been an enthralling cricket match which had begun when Pacific won the toss and asked Washington to bat first.

Washington's Matt Cheviot (10) and Pete Demetri (37) put on a solid 42 for the first wicket in the face of some accurate bowling from Daryl Roberts and the impressive Australian Matt Ralph (2-39), who swung the ball appreciably throughout.

Paul Irons (19) and Alan Moffatt (29) – batting with a runner after pulling a hamstring – kept the run rate going, but the star of the batting show was Steve Brown. Defending the good ball with great composure, he was mercilessly severe on anything wayward. He struck three sixes in his unbeaten 64, the pick of them a mere flick off his pads which lifted the ball clear over the square leg boundary.

Brown shared in an important stand of 50 for the fifth wicket with David Gluckman (4) and this allowed Washington to declare at tea having compiled a healthy 197 in 43 overs.

The start of Pacific's innings mirrored that of their hosts. In the face of some accurate seam bowling from Richard Minion (2-39) and Mick Kennedy, Pacific openers Guy Wiehan (20) and Miles Picknett (29) assembled a composed stand of 52.

However, the departure of Wiehan sparked a collapse of England-style proportions: as Picknett himself put it, ‘the wheels rather came off at that point'.

From 52-0, Pacific disintegrated to 57-8 in the face of some excellent swing bowling from Gary Evans (5-14), aggression from Irons (2-6), and a brilliant slip catch from Demetri.

However, with victory seemingly within Washington's grasp, controversy descended, and the match ended in a draw that scarcely reflected the home side's superiority on the day. It was, as Dave Walker said, ‘a frustrating end to an exhilerating day'.

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