Washington Cricket Club - 40th Anniversary Year

Gnome, normally the most formidable of opponents, were stripped bare by injuries and other commitments. It left skipper Anton Finneran with a headache, and when he won the toss he decided that an early bowl on the still damp pitch offered his inexperienced attack their best chance.

As it was, Wash openers Pete Demetri (40) and Matthew Cragoe (45) got their side off to another good start, adding 92 at 6 an over. The departure of skipper Demetri, to a skied a catch at mid-wicket, brought in Bracegirdle who announced his intentions with a series of boundaries including a big 6 back over the bowler’s head.

Cragoe ran himself out with a fifty in view, and Grant MacDonald then came in to share a stand of 69 with Bracegirdle before being bowled by Oliver Dunthorne (1-63) for 25.

But his departure made things no better for Gnome –possibly worse! Paul Irons proceeded to smash an unbeaten 74 from just 28 balls, seven huge sixes shattering the Sunday afternoon tranquillity in gardens all over North London!

Bracegirdle, meanwhile, had not been letting the grass grow beneath his feet: as the 40th and final over began, he had 97: good running engineered him the strike, and off he penultimate ball of the innings he cut the ball stylishly to the boundary to bring up an excellent century.

Washington’s mammoth score meant the pressure would be on the young Gnomes from the off: for 20 overs they batted as if they might get somewhere close to the target.

Despite an early success for Mark Wittet (1-55), Dunthorne (32), Barney Clargo (40) and Finneran (47) all batted with purpose and panache, keeping the scoring rate at a healthy 7 an over until the twenty mark.

Then a fabulous catch by Demetri, diving forward at mid-wicket and somehow jamming his fingers under the ball, saw the end of Finneran, and the rest just fell away.

From 156-3, Gnome collapsed to 173 all out in the face of some exacting Wash bowling and razor-sharp fielding. Justin Gurney (2-38) looked in prime form and two run outs complemented some good all round ground fielding.

However, it was Quin, with his brisk left arm medium pacers, who was the principal architect of Gnome’s collapse, picking up 5-41 in 7 devastating overs.

So a memorable win for Wash, but skipper Demetri sounded a note of caution: ‘Reckon they might be a bit stronger next time!’

Washington: Demetri(*), Cragoe, Bracegirdle, MacDonald, Irons, Quin, Gluckman, Roche, Gurney, Wittet, Tidey, N.

Man of the Match: Bracegirdle for a superb innings, good fielding and 2 catches.

Packing he Kit: Paul Irons for annoying Johnny Roche and repeatedly throwing down the stumps!