Washington Cricket Club - 40th Anniversary Year

‘We let ’em out of jail’, growled skipper Justin Gurney after the game.

Washington’s flying start owed much to opening bowlers Dan Barrett and Shawn Hill.  Barrett picked up the prize scalp of free-scoring Bush opener George Hope (0) with his second ball, courtesy of a brilliant catch down the leg-side from keeper Brad Hitchcock.  At the other end, Hill took care of Gibb (1) and Bridge (2) and Washington’s star was in the ascendant.

Even though a dogged partnership between Varker (50) and Threllfal (18) pulled the visitors back into the game, the dismissal of both men, to Paul Irons (1-40) and Sean Kricker (1-26) respectively, meant that with just over half the overs gone, Hollybush were teetering on the brink at 104-5.

That Bush ended up setting any kind of target was due to a magnificent innings of 69 from skipper, Pete Grzonka.  He rode his luck, Irons grassing one skied catching opportunity, but nine 4s and two 6s tell their own story.  He was eventually caught behind to give Hill (3-22) his third wicket, but his departure didn’t end the agony for Wash.  Ben Jooste emerged from the pavilion to pound a quick-fire 30 not out, including four 6s, two off Barrett’s final over, to leave the home side facing a massive victory target of 225.

Washington’s reply began steadily enough, but they rarely threatened to achieve the 5.5 runs an over required.  The stylish Rob Tidey held the innings together with a half-century, his 59 exhibiting a maturity beyond his 15 young years. However, the London Schools prodigy had trouble finding anyone to stay with him.

Kricker played well for 10 until he was worked over by Bush’s four-wicket pace-man, Jooste, and bowled; Hill got his bat tangled up in his pads and dollied a catch to cover; Aff Naseem looked gritty and stylish but eventually succumbed for 14;  Paul Irons, upon whose shoulders much expectation rested, fell for 0 (to the undisguised delight of the Bushmen); skipper Gurney made 10 before getting a shooter from Jooste; Gary Malcolm drove a glorious boundary through the covers off Jooste but couldn’t repeat the trick; and Richard Jones remained unbeaten on 10 at the end – his 7^th ‘not out’ in ten innings this season.

So a convincing win for Bush:  two wins out of two for them since this fixture began last year.  Wash will be hoping for better hunting next week.

Wash: Gurney (*), Hitchcock (+), Tidey, R, Naseem, Tidey T, Malcolm, Kricker, Barrett, Hill, Irons, Jones.

Man of the Match:  Rob Tidey