Washington Cricket Club - 40th Anniversary Year

In truth it was a see-saw game, and the advantage changed hands several times in the course of the afternoon. At first, Arkley were in the ascendant. Having been invited to bat first, they seized the initiative: after 18 overs they were 62-0, and Wash were looking down the barrel of a big total.

That Arkley failed to capitalise on their good start was down to the excellent bowling of Aussie leg-spinner Justin Gurney. His introduction to the attack turned the tide in Washington's favour. Matthew Cragoe picked up a smart catch in the gully to dismiss Clive Townsend for 35, and from that point, Washington's bowlers managed to slow down the run rate dramatically.

As Arkley's frustration mounted, so the wickets fell. Paul Irons grabbed two, Demetri one, and Peter Kloss (1-35) deserved more than he got in his best bowling display for the Wash; Gurney bagged a second wicket, courtesy of his captain who clung on to a real stinger to get rid of Arkley's top scorer, Sharma, for 41. And although some lusty blows from John Holland (14 not out) at the death pushed the total above 150, the match situation at tea-time probably favoured Washington.

The advantage didn't last long. Mindful of the brake Washington's slower bowlers had applied to their own innings, Arkley opened up with a mixture of medium pace and spin. Washington's openers found the going equally tough, and after ten overs the home side were perilously poised at 27-2.

Enter Steven Brown. For the second match in a row, the young South African scored a fine unbeaten half century. Playing with fierce concentration and an almost geometric precision, he resolutely defended the good ball and mercilessly punished anything loose. His score of 78 was embellished with ten fours and a six.