Washington Cricket Club - 40th Anniversary Year

Peter Kloss reporting

Despite some overnight rain the game got underway on time on a good looking pitch at North Midds, which had been aided by unusually dry April weather in preceding weeks. As it turned out the pitch did play well and Barnes proved the stronger side with both bat and ball.

Skipper Shawn Hill won the toss and elected to chase a total rather than post one in this 40 over game. The season started in the best possible way for medium pace bowler Sam Clark as he took a wicket with the very first ball of the match, Shyam taking a good catch at second slip. Things got even better 2 overs later as Clark also removed the other opener LBW and Barnes were 2 for 2. Clark bowled through his 8 overs returning 2-28. At the other end 2009 Bowler of the Season, Luke Mitchell bowled a little erratically and with his usual bad luck for figures of 0-18 from 4 overs.

Barnes made cautious progress to reach 30 for 2 after 10 overs, but in the next five 60 runs were scored as the batsmen  attacked first change bowler Ahir Pushpanath (0-43 from 3 overs). As a consequence Barnes put on a 90 odd run partnership for the third wicket. Spinner Shyam (0-41 from 7) and Ian Relf  (1-6 from 5) came on to bowl and steadied the ship, Relf finally breaking the partnership, bowling Surat for 63. Washington had not helped themselves during this period, dropping a couple of catches which really should have been taken. However this was in contrast with the ground fielding which was really excellent on this day. Several players distinguished themselves, notably Ian Relf with some great sliding stops on the boundary, Toby Mariner with sprint chases in the outfield, and Russell Pendry with an excellent stop and run out from mid-wicket. Shawn Hill, as is normal, also contributed in the field with 2 catches and one particular stop on the boundary when the ball looked absolutely certain to go for 4.

Shyam bowled steadily and accurately and was unlucky not to get a wicket. Toby Mariner (1-28 from 7 overs) and Russell Pendry (3-33 from 6) bowled the final 13 overs and wickets fell more regularly as Barnes pushed to maximise their score. Both bowlers were accurate and contained the batting attack well. Pendry was rewarded with 3 good wickets, all caught, one by keeper Nasser Ahmed who had a very competent and efficient day behind the stumps.

Barnes ended on 201 for 9 from their 40 overs and as the players tucked into a really excellent tea they contemplated that this was probably a par score and therefore quite gettable for the Washington.

The Wash innings began with Joel Braniff and Nasser Ahmed who kept the accurate Barnes bowling at bay well enough but found it difficult to score, frequently hitting the ball directly to fielders. 4 of the first 6 overs were maidens and when Ahmed was caught behind the score was only on 4. Shyam (7) and Hill (13) tried to push things along with Braniff (28) but each fell to the Barnes bowling which was accurate and competent but definitely playable on the relatively flat pitch. In the 19^th over Washington found themselves at 50 for 4.

Peter Kloss (32) and then Ian Relf (19) came to the wicket and put together the biggest partnership of the day for the Wash (40 runs in 8 overs). In this period despite the required run rate being 8 or 9 an over it did seem that the team might be in with a chance. However first Kloss and then Relf were dismissed trying to push the score on as Barnes rotated the bowling frequently. The Wash innings then fell away as Luke Mitchell (0), Sam Clark (3) and Toby Mariner (4) all departed relatively quickly and the team was all out for 130 in just under 35 overs. Mitchell achieved (?) his second golden duck in 2 innings this season, and was (unkindly) reminded that the unofficial Washington record for this is 4 golden ducks in a row by a batsman several years ago who will remain nameless.

Skipper Hill chose to take positives from the game despite the result, commenting  that “it’s early season and guys are still getting back into their cricket. I thought some of the bowling today was really good, particularly from Sam, Ian, Toby and Russ. It was also good to see Joel , Pete and Ian get in the runs with the bat. Our ground fielding was well above average today which was very pleasing to see. The first win of the season is only a game away.”

Man of the match: Ian Relf for a great bowling spell, excellent fielding and a few runs

Packing the kit: Luke Mitchell for making certain he is propping up the batting averages at this stage of the season