Washington Cricket Club - 40th Anniversary Year

Washington ended one of the most successful seasons in their history with a thrilling last-ball win against Ilford opponents, K2. As left arm quickie Mick Hunter ran in to bowl, everyone knew a boundary would seal it for the Essex side. As it was, the ball ended safely in the gloves of Wash keeper Johnny Roche and the spoils belonged to the Wash.

Skipper Pete Demetri was grinning all over his face at the end: ‘Fantastic game; I don’t think we’ve had a better game all season’, he enthused, as he took the congratulations of his team-mates.

It was fitting climax to a game that had been poised on a knife-edge all afternoon. Demetri had elected to bat first on winning the toss, and he and Matthew Cragoe (11) got Wash off to a decent start, adding 33 in the face of some lively bowling from Rehan (0-30) and Pervas (1-50)

When the openers fell, the mantle was taken up by Dale Bracegirdle (54) and Mark Wittet (34), who added a magnificent 97 for the third wicket. Some late blows from Tony the Kiwi Harris (19 not) and Justin Gurney (5 not) brought into the 190s by the end of their 40 overs. It was a fair effort, but, as they took tea, Washington may have wishing they had another fifteen runs on the board.

The K2 reply began slowly as Nick Tidey (1-36) and Gary Evans (2-21) kept a tight rein on things. Requiring something approaching five an over, Wash succeeded in limiting their visitors to three an over for the first 20 overs.

However, Shakil Maqsood (26) and Rahman (24) added 50 for the first wicket, and, after the drinks interval, K2 came out with all guns blazing. A dashing innings of 47 from Rehan brought K2 back into the game, and, when he fell to Wittet (2-15) an equally brilliant 39 from Pervas appeared to be guiding the visitors to victory. However, when he was adjudged lbw, again to Wittet, and Evans and Kennedy (2-48) had both bagged a second victim , the equilibrium was restored.

And so it all came down to a last ball face off between Imran and Kennedy: fortunately for the Wash, the batsman’s extravagant drive connected with nothing but the air, and the day was Washington’s.