Sunday 14th August 2016 vs Vishwa C.C.
 
Strong win for the Wash
 
Vishwa C.C. 97
Washington C.C. 101
 

Eric Stoughton reporting

 

The Wash entertained Vishwa CC on Sunday 14th August 2016 however not at our usual home ground but at Wray Crescent near Finsbury park otherwise known as the ‘postage stamp’.

 

Those of you who know this ground will also be aware that the locals play football here and so it was, on a sunny afternoon, we had the ritualised game of ‘whose pitch is it anyway’, a fascinating struggle of our chairman’s restrained kiwi charm against ‘you’re not from round these parts are you’ retorts.

 

Our chairman, having struggled all week to get a 9.5-man Wash team out was in no mood for compromise, he won the conundrum in super quick time and so the field was set for what traditionally has been a tight encounter between the two sides.

 

Vishwa batted first as the sun beat down on a very green and flat artificial wicket, with the depleted Wash knowing they would have to bowl and field like demons in this 35 over contest.

 

Luke Mitchell (7/0/24/3) and ‘half man’ Max Murrain (7/1/37/4) opened the bowling. The No.1 bat for Vishwa took a fancy to Luke’s opening salvo dispatching his first ball for four and tried to do the same with the other 5 balls although the Wash were like salmon in the field.

 

Conversely, Max’s first ball to the No.2 bat rattled his timbers and he was on his way back to the pavilion ‘quack quack oops’ and so the tone was set.

 

With the dregs of the gangsta footballers looking on and their nefarious activities wafting across the ground, Luke and Max proceeded to bowl inspired spells taking seven wickets between them and they were royally backed up in the field with Stuart Marsh taking a full length one handed diving catch at deep mid-off to remove the dangerous No. 1 bat, the ball was travelling and all agreed, including the oppo, one of the finest catches seen, everyone was on a high!

 

An excellent one handed slip catch by Clint, Ian Moore pouching a nice one at mid-wicket, Mike Turner faultless behind the stumps, a sharp run out by Aftab and Doug Mills’ knee all backed up the bowlers whilst Eric Stoughton just watched on in admiration, a fine team performance.

 

The change bowlers Stuart Marsh (4.4/1/20/1) and Clinton Dugmore (4/2/15/1) cleaned up a resilient tail and Vishwa were all out for 97 off 22.4 overs, tea was taken.

 

The tea was a welcome break and a huge thanks to Cindy the chairman’s wife and Luke for a very decent spread indeed, the Wash now down to 9 men because Max had to go to work knew the chase would need to be considered and structured.

 

Aftab Akram (22) and skipper Clinton Dugmore (49) opened the Wash reply against some accurate Vishwa bowling which included a frog in a blender bowler, both very watchful and putting the bad ball away. Their 57 run partnership was just what the Wash needed and took the sting out of the Vishwa attack who changed bowlers regularly to affect a collapse but to no avail.

 

Aftab was fired by the chair for 22 which brought Mike Turner (5 not out) to the wicket who held up one end and allowed the skipper to unleash some lusty blows to take the Wash to the brink of victory, ultimately a miscue was Clint’s undoing, skying one to deep square leg chasing the winning runs.

 

This brought Khan (4 not out) the Wash finisher to the wicket, who, as is customary, square cut the ball for four to seal the game. The Wash comfortably ending on 101 for 2 off 19 overs.

 

The Wash repaired to a local hostelry for some well-deserved libations, and bumped in to the club’s scoop, Prof. Matthew Cragoe, drowning his sorrows having watched Arsenal lose to Liverpool 4-3 at home on the opening day of the premiership, oh well, not to worry, the Wash has never lost when Doug Mills plays.

 

Man of the match: Max Murrain for a great bowling performance and club loyalty on a school day for him, very much appreciated.

 

Packing the Kit: Smoothy for not contributing.

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Batting
Player Runs How out
Aftab Akram 22 LBW
Clinton Dugmore 49 Caught
Mike Turner 5* 
Khan bin Abdul Azeez 4* 
Did Not Bat
Stuart Marsh
Doug Mills
Luke Mitchell
Ian Moore
Eric Stoughton
Max Murrain
Partnerships
Wkt Runs Batsmen
1 57 Aftab Akram  &  Clinton Dugmore
2 97 Clinton Dugmore  &  Mike Turner
3 4 * Mike Turner  &  Khan bin Abdul Azeez



Fielding
Player Cts Wkt Cts Stmps
Clinton Dugmore 1 - -
Stuart Marsh 1 - -
Ian Moore 1 - -
Mike Turner - 1 -
Bowling
Player Overs Mdns Runs Wkts
Max Murrain 7.0 1 37 4
Luke Mitchell 7.0 0 24 3
Clinton Dugmore 4.0 2 15 1
Stuart Marsh 4.4 1 20 1
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