Washington Cricket Club - 40th Anniversary Year

Matt Cheviot reporting

Eighth-wicket pair Arun (25 not out) and Stuart Marsh (2 not out) put up a heroic rearguard action as Wash clung on for a draw against a strong Highgate side on Sunday.  With 10 of the final 20 overs remaining in this declaration match, Wash were teetering at 127-8.  But steely defence – combined with some well-timed blows – saw the team to safety and safeguarded Washington’s unbeaten start to the 2015 season.

After the game, skipper Shawn Hill said: ‘they showed a lot of guts out there, and it was great to see that in Lee Fogarty’s last game for us because he’s contributed so much to the spirit of the club over the years.’

Highgate batted first, and with several first team regulars in their side seeking some early season practice, got off to a steady start. After a symbolic opening over from Fogarty (0-5), Stuart Marsh (0-18) and Hill (0-35) kept things tight, restricting the home side to 51 off the first 15 overs; the first 20 yielded 73, and when Sandeep Kuckreja (1-48) bowled Gillham (30) Wash felt they were well in the game. 

Their illusions on this front, however, were quickly dispelled, as new batsman Gallagher began to flay the bowling with enormous power to all parts of the ground.  Arun (0-45) and Andrew Walsh (0-61) suffered accordingly as he was dropped four times on his way to 101, when (mercifully) he retired.

 Wash then enjoyed a mini-fight back, as Russell Pendry (2-61), bowling with considerable guile, pinned both opener de Silva (68) lbw, and new batsman Singh (0) leg before, but a quick-fire 50 from Donaldson put the home team in a commanding position at tea, when they declared with 279-3 on the board.

Washington’s reply got off to a bad start when opener Tony Harris (0) was bowled but Aravinda (39) and Aff Naseem (16) played nicely to put Washington’s innings back on an even keel.  The added 64 for the second wicket, but then departed in quick succession to Mayby.

Shawn Hill (15) announced himself with two enormous sixes but was then caught off leg-spinner Harries, who went on to claim 4-66.  Fogarty (12) struck three boundaries in his swansong innings, Cragoe went for 0, Sandeep for 4, and Walsh (22) became 8^th man down after a bright, belligerent innings.

Highgate appeared to be closing on victory, but Arun and Marsh held their nerve to steer Washington through in a tense finale.

So ended an interesting afternoon’s cricket, but also, more poignantly, a notable Washington career, as Lee Fogarty left the field for the last time as a Washington player.