| Sunday 10th August 2003 vs Sundowners C.C. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wash succumb in th heat | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Washington C.C. |  |
186 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sundowners C.C. | |
189-3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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On the hottest day ever recorded in Britain, Washington tumbled to defeat against a very strong Sundown Specials team at North Middlesex. It brought to an end a run of 7 straight wins for the Wash, and allowed Sundowners to avenge the defeat they suffered on their own territory earlier in the season. Washington were without any of their front line bowlers, and a good start was essential. When skipper Justin Gurney won the toss and opted to bat first, it seemed things might go their way. At the drinks interval, 15 overs later, the innings looked to be shaping up nicely, with the score at 65-0. However, within ten balls of the resumption, both Dale Bracegirdle (46) and Matthew Cragoe (13) had gone, and the initiative began to slip imperceptibly to the visitors. The Sundowners bowled and fielded extremely well, and a succession of Washington batsmen got in but found it difficult to press the accelerator. Paul Irons smashed a glorious 6 but was caught behind for 26, Grant MacDonald played with great composure but was then run out for 29, and debutant Simon Sloane drove fiercely for 26 before falling to a brilliant catch at short fine leg by Chris Isles. The fifth wicket went down at 173. With overs running out and a recognition that a score in excess of 200 was the minimum required on such a fast pitch, Wash attempted to bludgeon their way to that milestone. Alex Quin hit 19, but at the other end, wickets tumbled in the face of accurate bowling from Sambrook (3-34) and Medlock (3-26). Wash lost their last 5 wickets for just 11 runs. Sundown openers Andy Vernon and Tony Medlicott played patiently and had added 51 before Washington got heir first breakthrough – Vernon well caught at mid-wicket by Bracegirdle off Irons (1-33). And Irons might have picked up another soon after when a strong shout for lbw was turned down. It was a crucial moment in the game: the fortunate batsman, Chris Isles, plays cricket for Kentish First Division side Beckenham, and he proceeded to take Washington’s makeshift attack apart with a clinical power that was quite awesome. Wash never gave up the fight and there were a few moments of success: Sloane (1-41) knocked back Medlicott’s leg stump with the opener on 55, and Jani was brilliantly stumped by John Roche to give Bracegirdle (1-43) a reward for a fine spell of slow-left arm bowling. But with Isles in unstoppable form, and a few catches hitting he turf, the game sped away from Washington. As Isles smashed the six that won the game, and took him to 99 not out, it was acknowledged on all sides that the better team had won on the day.
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