Washington Cricket Club - 40th Anniversary Year

Unusually, for a Pacific home game, skipper Nigel Wilkinson opted for a 40 over contest in the North London derby against Washington at Broxbourne on Sunday.  Wash skipper, Justin Gurney called correctly and had no hesitation in batting and Pete Demetri and Paul Irons started positively against some testing bowling by John Baglivi and Martin Cowling.  Irons was aggressive but was soon bowled by Baglivi, and  Aussie, Dale Bracegirdle, playing in his first Pacific game, came to the crease.   He was soon in his stride and hit a cultured 47 (8 fours) in a stand of 89 with Demetri, who had started slowly but with intent to bat out the overs.  Bracegirdle was bowled by Curt Rademaker in 24^th over with Wash on 118-2 and Kiwi, Tony Harris joined Demetri.  The pair added 86 in only 13 overs, with Demetri now in dominant form.  He went on to register his first century against Pacific and ended on 105 not out (16 fours).  It was a determined knock against one of the best bowling attacks Wash have played all season.  After Harris went for 27, Donald Campbell scored 16 in 8 balls, ending the innings with a 4-6-4 flourish to take Washington to 243.

Pacific started badly, losing Pete Hollman in the first over, caught behind off Brandon Legg.  But Guy Wiehahn and Jim Davies set out to recover the situation and added 69 in 16 overs, below the required rate but keeping Pacific in touch.  Davies eventually holed out for an aggressive 40 to a long hop from Eric Stoughton and Wiehahn, now finding his touch, was joined by Sammy Purcell.  At the 20 over mark, Pacific were well behind the asking rate needing 165 and Steve Brown, an occasional bowler, pegged them back with an excellent spell of medium pace.  He had Wiehahn caught at deep mid wicket, caught and bowled Purcell and persuaded the aggressive Marcel Booneart to hole out to Legg at long on.  10 overs to go and Pacific needed 108. Enter Lucius Faisal who added 53 in 7 overs with Curt Rademaker.  Despite the gloomy light, Faisal had no problem sighting the ball and his powerful 41 included 6 fours and 2 towering sixes before he was stumped by John Roche off Gurney.  Rademaker (37 not out), Baglivi and Bastin tried their best in impossible light, but fell short by 20 runs.

As Wash skipper, Gurney summed up : “At the 20 over mark, we thought we were home and dry, but by the time Lucius got going, we were beginning to get worried.  Pacific did really well to get as close as they did and our thanks to them for an excellent game.”