Washington Cricket Club - 40th Anniversary Year

A brilliant century from Wash skipper Don Campbell was not enough to give Washington victory in this nail-biting classic.  Needing five to win from the last ball, they could only muster two, leaving Queensbury victorious by a margin of just two runs.

Earlier in the day, Queensbury had won the toss and elected to bat. Although Washington’s opening bowlers kept things tight, with Richard Jones (1-24) particularly impressive, they failed to grab early wickets, and the run rate gradually increased.  There were successes for Radovich (2-40), and Butcher (1-53), but Queensbury opener, Merin, remained a thorn in the visitors’ side and stacked up 112 runs before George Hope (1-27) sent him back to the pavilion with only two balls left of their innings.

With a tough target of 209 runs Washington hoped for yet another century from in-form Aussie tyro Hope;  after a quick-fire twenty, however, he was caught in the slips.

Washington gradually fall behind the required run rate. John Roche offered a steely defence to a good opening spell of bowling, but could not find anyone to complement his sheet-anchor role, and the run chase was further hampered by the loss of key wickets at crucial moments – the run out of the in-form Aff Naseem being particularly important.

It was only when Campbell and Jones came together  that Washington’s challenge took on a coherent form.   Much needed runs began to flow as the boundary was repeatedly breached; however Wash still needed 55 from the last 4 overs.

Campbell went for it, but perished in the process, caught behind for a very fine 112- he got a well-deserved cheer from his team-mates on his return to the pavilion.

Out on the field, however, the atmosphere became more tense as 28 runs were needed from 2 overs. The umpire called a no ball and then a wide against a nervous bowling side. Now 14 runs were needed from the last over. With another Jones boundary only nine runs were needed with three balls to go.

With some good bowling it meant that five were needed from the last ball for a Washington win. Jones hit the ball hard and high in what looked like a six before it dropped onto the ground. Jones and his batting partner Dominic ran, looking for at least four runs. But Jones was run out making a third run giving Queensbury a close victory.

After the game, Campbell was in magnanimous mood:  “It’s not over until it’s over”, he said. “The game was played with great spirit and fighting qualities. It’s a shame about the result but it was a very enjoyable game to be a part of.”