Saturday 2nd June 2007 vs Mayfield C.C.
 
A Sort of Homecoming
 
Mayfield C.C. 204 for 7
Washington C.C. 205 for 6
 

Two senior Washington players enjoyed an emotional day on Saturday as they returned to the ground where they made their debuts for the club in June 2001. Both responded with strong performances, Paul Irons scoring a majestic unbeaten 135, and Peter Kloss bowling a long spell of medium pace rewarded with 4-33.

In fact 7 players made their debut on that day in 2001 (see match report at http://www.washingtoncc.org/stats/index.cfm?fuseaction=result&gid=200), in a team inspired by David Gluckman. The Wash were beaten comprehensively being bowled out for just 86, but the seeds sown that day have really blossomed for the club. The 2001 side also included seasoned players Steve Brown and Gary Malcolm who were not playing on this day in 2007.

On a glorious summer's day the Washington captain Peter Kloss won the toss in this declaration game and put the opposition in on a flat but slightly damp surface. Sandeep Kuckreja (3-58) and Peter Kloss (4-33) opened the bowling. The ball immediately began doing things and the ball passed the outside edge countless times without success. Mayfield crawled to 21 in the 10th over, but then 4 wickets fell rapidly as Kloss had an LBW and two catches and Kuckreja bowled one of the openers. Mayfield were now in trouble on 26 for 4.

Paul and Bowden were now at the wicket and began to rescue the innings against new bowlers Tobe Mariner (0-37) and Taran Persaud (0-29). They built a strong and measured partnership over almost 2 hours and 27 overs. The scoring rate was never rapid but the partnership of 166 for the 5th wicket was the highest in Mayfield's history. Kloss turned to Paul Irons (0-22) and Lee Fogarty (0-22) in the search to break the partnership, but it was only when Kuckreja and Kloss returned to the attacked that three more wickets fell as Mayfield sought quick runs prior to a declaration. In fact Washington did well to limit Mayfield to only 35 from the final 10 overs and keep the target manageable.

After tea Tony Harris (8) and Aff Naseem (1) opened Washington's account, but after 7 overs both had fallen. Paul Irons had come to the wicket at no.3 and began relatively cautiously, partly as a consequence of being dropped early on in his innings. However once he was settled he played what must rate as one of his best for the club, and certainly his highest. The maturity in shot selection and picking the bad balls to hit was outstanding, but also his authority in directing running and in holding the innings together really set up the victory for the Washington. Irons had brief partnerships with Jeremy Orlando (6), Lee Fogarty (12) and Brad Hitchcock (2), and a 57 run partnership with Kuckreja (16). However Irons always scored the lion's share of the runs and his percentage of the innings total at 66%, as seasoned observers will know, is extremely high.

That Irons carried his bat to the end and saw his team through to victory with 4 overs of the final 20 to spare is additionally to his credit. Captain Kloss was most grateful commenting after the game “thanks to Paul for a great innings today and for ensuring the victory. I was always confident we could chase 200 with our batting line up and his innings made that victory even easier than I had expected. It's also fantastic to see that summer has arrived. Let's really enjoy it from here”.

Man of the match: Paul Irons for a mature, match-winning inning

Packing the kit: No strong contenders this time

Washington: Tony Harris, Aff Naseem, Paul Irons, Lee Fogarty, Jeremy Orlando, Taran Persaud, David Gluckman, Brad Hitchcock (+), Peter Kloss(c), Tobe Mariner, Sandeep Kuckreja, Dominic Butcher (12th man)


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Batting
Player Runs How out
Tony Harris 8 Bowled
Aff Naseem 1 Caught
Paul Irons 135* 
Jeremy Orlando 6 Run Out
Lee Fogarty 12 Caught
Brad Hitchcock 2 Caught
Sandeep Kuckreja 16 Caught
Toby Mariner 6* 
Did Not Bat
Peter Kloss
David Gluckman
Taran Persaud
Partnerships
Wkt Runs Batsmen
1 10 Tony Harris  &  Aff Naseem
2 9 Aff Naseem  &  Paul Irons
3 44 Paul Irons  &  Jeremy Orlando
4 46 Paul Irons  &  Lee Fogarty
5 25 Paul Irons  &  Brad Hitchcock
6 57 Paul Irons  &  Sandeep Kuckreja
7 14 * Paul Irons  &  Toby Mariner



Fielding
Player Cts Wkt Cts Stmps
Tony Harris 1 - -
Peter Kloss 1 - -
Bowling
Player Overs Mdns Runs Wkts
Taran Persaud 5.0 1 29 0
Lee Fogarty 3.0 0 22 0
Sandeep Kuckreja 14.0 3 58 3
Peter Kloss 14.0 5 33 4
Paul Irons 3.0 0 22 0
Toby Mariner 6.0 1 37 0
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