Washington Cricket Club - 40th Anniversary Year

This was a game in which Washington appeared to have everything under control for most of the afternoon, but were nearly blown away by an amazing comeback from the Sundowners at the death.

Sundowners won the toss and elected to bat first. However, the smile on the face of Wash skipper Pete Demetri kept getting bigger. Paceman Nick Tidey enjoyed another fine day at the office, producing an 11 over opening spell of 2-17, including the prize wicket of Tony Medlock for just 18; the fielding, meanwhile, was razor sharp and it all meant that after 20 overs, Sundowners only had 43 on the board.

They attempted to accelerate their way back into the game, but on a pitch where the infamous ‘ridge’ was in evidence throughout the early afternoon, the inevitable price was wickets. Gary Evans picked up 2-31, Rob Tidey got 1-19, and Paul Irons charged in to pick up 1-10.

However, it was Eric Stoughton who picked up the second jewel in Sundowners’ crown, Mick McGowan, producing a special ‘low ball’ to rattle the timbers of this most prolific middle-order man for just 14.

Some late blows from Ferdini (26 not out) preceded a tea-time declaration; however, home captain Mike Herlihy reckoned his team might have been 20 runs short.

How good an estimate this was to prove was not immediately evident. Sundowners reorganised their bowling attack in hopes of exploiting the ridge, but Wash openers, Demetri and Matthew Cragoe, proceeded at the rate of 5 an over after the latter had escaped a chance to gully in the first over.

However, with the score at 90, Demetri fell for 48, and a little tumble of wickets raised the Sundowners’ spirits: Grant Macdonald squirted a catch to square leg off Medlock and three balls later, the same bowler pinned Taran Persaud lbw.

The reassuring arrival at the crease of Paul Irons steadied Wash nerves, and ‘Mighty’ didn’t disappoint. Six 4s and two huge 6s –one of which flew away over the houses bordering the ground – marked his 44 and brought Wash within sight of a routine victory.

However, with his dismissal, the Sundowners suddenly found their feet. Pilgrim ended Cragoe’s patient vigil at 40, and then bowled Rob Tidey (2) and Nick Tidey (4) to finish with 4-46; at the other end, Dave Cattell bowled Tony Harris for 0, and John Roche(4).

The ninth wicket went down with Wash still needing 3 for victory, the light fading and the bowlers on fire. At last Washington found a saviour: cool-headedly defying the tension, Gary Evans clipped a two and then smacked a boundary to win the game.

As skipper Demetri said as the ball hit the rope: ‘Phew!’

Washington: Demetri (*), Cragoe, MacDonald, Persaud, Irons, Harris, Tidey R., Roche, Evans, Tidey N., Stoughton

Man of the Match: Gary Evans – cool under fire Packing the Kit: the Ducks: Harris, MacDonald and Persaud!