Sunday 16th July 2000 vs Archway Graces C.C.
 
 
Archway Graces C.C. 166 for 9
Washington C.C. 165 for 9
 
A breath-taking onslaught from Steve Billows brought Washington to the brink of victory in Sunday's encounters with local rivals Archway Graces. Coming to the wicket with 57 needed from the last seven overs, Billows smashed an unbeaten 46 to bring the Wash agonisingly close to a dramatic victory.
But with nine wickets down, it could so easily have gone the Graces' way, factors which inspired Wash skipper Dave Walker to say afterwards: 'That's as good as the game gets: they'll do well to match that finale in Saturday's Triangular Final at Lord's!'

It was a suprisingly close ending since at one stage Wash looked dead and buried. Richard Parry (60) and captain Sam Ball (45) unleashed a dazzling array of shots in a fine third wicket stand of 113, leaving Wash decidedly on the back foot.

But a drinks interval and a change of ends for bowlers Justin Gurney and Gary Evans refreshed Washington's ideas, and suddenly they were back in the hunt. The Graces slipped from 122-2 to 144-7 and finally ended up at 166, Gurney pouching 4-52 and Evans 3-45.

Washington's reply began confidently, with Matthew Cragoe (39) and Grant Macdonald (4) adding 36 for the first wicket, and Nick Wickers carrying on the good work with a breezy and stylish 21. However, three wickets for Archways' Noland reined in Washington's reply, and set the stage for Billows' dramatic late barrage.

A draw kept both sides' unbeaten records intact, but whetted the appetite for more. As Archway skipper Sam Ball said: 'I simply can't wait for next year's fixture!'
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Batting
Player Runs How out
Matthew Cragoe 39 Caught
Grant McDonald 4 Bowled
Nick Wickers 21 Caught
David Walker 13 Caught
Alan Moffat 4 Caught
David Gluckman 5 Caught
Steve Billows 46* 
Taran Persaud 4 Run Out
Justin Gurney 2 Run Out
James Wood 1 Bowled
Gary Evans 2* 
Partnerships
Wkt Runs Batsmen
1 36 Matthew Cragoe  &  Grant McDonald
2 23 Matthew Cragoe  &  Nick Wickers
3 20 Nick Wickers  &  David Walker
4 18 David Walker  &  Alan Moffat
5 1 David Walker  &  David Gluckman
6 10 David Gluckman  &  Steve Billows
7 32 Steve Billows  &  Taran Persaud
8 8 Steve Billows  &  Justin Gurney
9 8 Steve Billows  &  James Wood
10 9 * Steve Billows  &  Gary Evans


Fielding
Player Cts Wkt Cts Stmps
Justin Gurney 1 - -
Alan Moffat - - 1
James Wood 2 - -
Bowling
Player Overs Mdns Runs Wkts
James Wood 12.0 3 30 0
Justin Gurney 13.0 2 52 4
Gary Evans 15.0 3 45 3
Steve Billows 4.0 0 35 0
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