Washington Cricket Club - 40th Anniversary Year

Washington defeated the Hollybush on Sunday to draw level at 2-2 in games between these two keenly competitive sides. It was a frustrating day for the players as heavy rain showers affected the grudge match. Eventually the match got underway at 4pm, on the central artificial strip at North Middlesex, and with the format reduced to 20 overs per side.

However the sun did appear periodically through the match and shone on another Washington victory, by 6 wickets with 8 balls to spare. Washington captain Justin Gurney (10*) hit a six and a four from his 2 balls faced to seal the win. However the backbone of the innings was Don Campbell who scored 40 as opener, and there were quickfire contributions from Paul Irons (34) and Shawn Hill (28*).

Earlier Hollybush had struggled to get going as they lost 2 wickets with only 21 on the board. George Hope (1), considered a major threat by the Wash, did his opponents a favour when he ran himself out at the non-striker's end in the first over. Bowler Paul Irons turned and threw down the stumps with absolute glee. The Washington celebrations were raptuous.

However Du Plessis (30), and later Cramer (43), took control of the Hollybush innings and helped them advance to 160 for 7. Three wickets fell in the last few overs as they tried to push the score to the maximum. The star bowler for Washington was Tony Burt (2-18 from 4 overs), and Paul Irons (2-33 from 4) also turned in a good performance. There were also single wickets for Robert Tidey and Matthew Holt. Strangely the skipper, leg spinner Gurney, did not bring himself on at all.

Of course in the 20-20 format it is all about scoring quickly and there was much controlled hitting on display all day. The biggest hit of the day was from Paul Irons who managed to deposit the ball directly into a hanging flower basket in front of the pavilion. The children watching the game were highly amused as the ball was retrieved.

An analysis of the final scorecard revealed that Hollybush's Achilles heel was actually extras, and more specifically wides. 31 was in the extras column, more than three quarters being wides (there were two instances of 5 wides as the ball beat the keeper). Washington had only given 10 extras away. Might the result have been different if the Bush had bowled straighter?

Captain Justin Gurney said after the game “Well played our team in a good, competitive match. I'm really pleased to have restored parity in our contests against the Bush. It's now 2 all and I hope next season the boys can pull ahead for the first time. Go the Wash machine!”

Man of the match: Don Campbell, the backbone of the Washington innings

Packing the kit: George Hope – need I say more?

Washington: Aff Naseem, Steve Brown, Justin Gurney (c), Don Campbell, Pete Demitri, Paul Irons, Shawn Hill, John Roche, Matt Holt, Tony Burt, Robert Tidey