Sunday 30th July 2006 vs Graces C.C.
 
Wash Spanked by Graces
 
Washington C.C. 143 (36.3 overs)
Graces C.C. 144-4 (23 overs)
 

Justin Gurney reporting

 

Graces exacted revenge for several years of losses to the Washington CC in emphatic fashion on Sunday. The Washington were simply outplayed in all facets of the game by the Graces who were at the peak of their form.

 

Wash skipper Justin Gurney lost the toss and the Graces skipper had no hesitation in inserting the Wash on a green top which looked like it might interest all bowlers.

 

The Wash innings never really got going. Openers Demetri and Knight were back in the shed for just 3 and 16 respectively, the Guru holing out with a leading edge and Knight bowled by a wicked in-cutter.  Tony the Kiwi batting at number 3 started promisingly with some fine shots but was undone for 17 by the first ball of the first bowling change which was an unexpected very fast delivery off 3 paces which went through the gate and wrecked the stumps.

 

Dave Walker batted sensibly for 9 in the face of some of the best bowling the Wash has seen this year but then perished like others just when he looked set. Hill (13) and Roche (5) played a couple of nice strokes but continued the similar pattern of getting out after nearly getting in.

 

When Gurney joined Brown at 90 for 8 the Wash were on the rack. Gurney (28) and Brown (17 n.o.) offered some resistance in putting on a 53 partnership before Gurney perished stumped attempting one big shot too many. Gilmer came in to join Brown only to receive a wicket shooter 2nd ball which was adjudged lbw. Brown was stranded on 17  n.o. and the wash had folded for 143.

 

At the break the Wash were disappointed with their score but retained hope as there had been plenty in the track for the Graces bowlers.

 

The Wash needed early wickets. Gilmer (0/18) and Hill (0/26) bowled very well and beat the bat several times but could not dislodge the Graces' openers who after 12 overs had put on an unbeaten 40. Gurney turned to Demetri (2/35) which reaped immediate reward when he removed one opener caught well at cover. Gurney (1/36) then promptly removed the other opener caught well by Brown and at 2/50 the gate suddenly appeared to open for the Wash.

 

Demetri, who was extracting good turn and bounce, then removed Graces number 3 bowled and at 3/55 it appeared game on. However the entry of the numbers 4 & 5 Graces batsmen heralded the launch of a vicious counter attack. Gurney and to a lesser extent Demetri received some severe treatment as the middle order batsmen opened their shoulders and found the short boundary several times. In just a few overs Graces score raced from 3/55 to 3/95. Gurney then turned to Brown in a last ditch attempt to prize out a wicket. This worked with Brown's 1st ball (1/6) as Hill took arguably the catch of the season after diving full length goalkeeper like on the backward square leg boundary. The Wash again had a faint sniff. But it wasn't to be as the Graces put their heads down and knocked off the remaining 40 odd runs convincingly.

 

There were some positives as the Wash did field well and caught the few chances they were offered. Roche was typically excellent behind the stumps.

 

Gurney was philosophical after the match. “We were outplayed in all departments by the Graces today who thoroughly deserved their win. The boys never gave in but we simply weren't at the races today. In a funny sort of way this defeat might not be bad for us as it might just kick us in the pants and spur us on for the rest of the season. We will be back.”

 

Man of the match: No particularly noteworthy performances. Perhaps Shawn Hill for catch of the season to date and tidy bowling.

 

Packing the kit: Joint effort by all.

 

Washington: Demitri, Knight, Harris, Walker, Persaud, Naseem, Roach (+), Hill, Brown, Gurney (c), Gilmer

 

 

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Batting
Player Runs How out
Pete Demetri 3 Caught
Paul Knight 16 Bowled
Tony Harris 17 Bowled
David Walker 9 Bowled
Taran Persaud 1 Bowled
Aff Naseem 12 Caught
John Roche 5 Bowled
Shawn Hill 13 Caught
Steve Brown 17* 
Justin Gurney 28 Stumped
Gareth Gillmer 0 LBW
Partnerships
Wkt Runs Batsmen
1 4 Pete Demetri  &  Paul Knight
2 23 Paul Knight  &  Tony Harris
3 20 Tony Harris  &  David Walker
4 6 David Walker  &  Taran Persaud
5 1 David Walker  &  Aff Naseem
6 19 Aff Naseem  &  John Roche
7 13 Aff Naseem  &  Shawn Hill
8 10 Shawn Hill  &  Steve Brown
9 53 Steve Brown  &  Justin Gurney
10 0 Steve Brown  &  Gareth Gillmer



Fielding
Player Cts Wkt Cts Stmps
Bowling
Player Overs Mdns Runs Wkts
Justin Gurney 4.0 1 36 1
Pete Demetri 4.0 0 35 2
Steve Brown 2.0 0 6 1
Gary Malcolm 2.0 0 16 0
Shawn Hill 6.0 1 26 0
Gareth Gillmer 5.0 0 18 0
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