Washington Cricket Club - 40th Anniversary Year

Wash skipper Gurney lost the toss and Pacific chose to bat. Opening bowler Bock (3-19) had opener Holliday caught at gully in his first over, and took a second wicket in his next. However this brought Grigg in to join Duthrie (55) and the pair put on a partnership of around 150 against a series of luckless Wash bowlers – Kloss (1-48) Jones (1-38), Crocks (0-23), Gurney (0-37) and Hill. Grigg (102) particularly played extremely well using the pace of the ball behind square on both sides of the wicket, and cutting and pulling square of the wicket frequently. He also hit several straight boundaries against line and length bowling. Washington did not help themselves by dropping a number of sharp, but catchable chances in the field.

It took the introduction of Paul Irons into the attack to dismiss Grigg, Jones having broken the partnership a couple of overs earlier, trapping Duthrie LBW. Irons took a little while to develop consistency in line and length, but once he did get it right the wickets tumbled. Irons ended up with 5 wickets for 26 runs and was at one stage on a hat-trick having been given two LBW decisions in successive balls. Pacific went from 165-2 to 221 all out. The Wash had fought back admirably. However significant damage had been done thanks to Grigg’s century and Pacific had a strong total to defend.

After tea Bock (15) and Brown (25) opened the Wash innings and built a total of 42 in only the 6^th over. Harris (23) came in and continued the good work, but two wickets fell in the 60s (Harris and Hill (2)). Paul Irons then strode to the wicket looking for a big innings and hit six fours in his 25 runs, however he was then caught in the covers, the ball looping off his bat after apparently hitting his front foot first. However at this stage the Wash score was 105-4 in only the 16^th over and the match was finely balanced.

Unfortunately Washington suffered as no-one was able to build a big innings. Gurney (18) and Gluckman (13) grafted away with determination. However these batsmen were then both bowled and Wash had fallen behind the required rate by this time, needing 76 from the last 10 overs. Jones (4) and Burton (17) contributed, trying to accelerate the scoring, and Crocks scored 10 no. quickly. Burton was particularly impressive hitting two excellent boundaries. However Pacific were in control by this stage and when Kloss was caught LBW on his crease for a duck Pacific had won by 35 runs with 2 overs and 4 balls remaining. The Extras total was 34.

Wash captain Gurney said afterwards “Grigg played well to give them a big score, but I was really proud of the way we fought back in the field to give ourselves a chance. We let ourselves down a bit with the bat however – extras being top score is telling”

Everyone left looking forward to the second encounter of the season, in September, Pacific eager to deliver a double blow, as the Wash did last season, Washington keen to square things up for an honourable 1-1 season’s draw.

Man of Match: Grigg, for his century, and also a wicket

Packing the Kit: Irons, for claiming and then retracting that his wicket was a bump ball

Washington: Bock, Brown, Harris (+), Hill, Irons, Gurney (c), Gluckman, Jones, Burton, Crocks, Kloss