Sunday 4th September 2005 vs Northwick Park C.C.
 
Wash denied in 'Exciting Draw'
 
Washington C.C. 228-6 dec
Northwick Park C.C. 155-9
 
Washington were denied victory on Sunday by a sturdy last wicket partnership that saw Northwick Park hold out for a draw. Earlier, a brilliant innings of 92 from Paul Irons had seen Wash post a target of over 200, and skipper Justin Gurney almost won the match at the last with a superb spell of leg-spin bowling. But it wasn’t enough and an absorbing afternoon of cricket ended with honours even.

Gurney’s afternoon began well as he enjoyed the rare experience of winning the toss – only the third time he has called correctly all year! On a baking afternoon, he opted to bat and saw his top order make good progress. Rob Tidey rode his luck to make a stylish 39 before he got one that kept low; Pete Demetri was unlucky to be given out lbw to a ball he played onto his pad; and Taran Persaud played some majestic shots on his way to 12.

All this was to prove just an appetiser to the main course, however: a swashbuckling monster of an innings from Irons. He declared his intentions by dispatching the first three balls he received to the boundary, and never looked back thereafter. He had a little luck, being dropped twice, but eleven 4s and three 6s tell their own story.

In partnership with Matthew Cragoe (29) he added 72 for the fourth wicket, and then 36 more in rapid time with John Roche (9) for the fifth before finally holing out at mid-wicket.

There was time for a cameo appearance from Mike Walton (3), in possibly his last game for the Wash, before Gurney called his players in with 228 on the board.

On a postage-stamp of a ground with a very fast outfield, that was a sporting declaration. However once Nick Tidey had opened with four consecutive maidens, and Peter Kloss (2-43) had snaffled two wickets from the other end, it became clear that Northwick would struggle to reach their target.

Richard Jones (1-19) then picked up a wicket and though Atul (42) played some brave shots, the Northwick batters were pegged back as Wash launched a spin offensive. Gurney himself bowled 11 straight overs and picked up 4-45, including two stupendous ‘caught and bowleds’, while Demetri snared a brace to finish with 2-32.

The ninth wicket fell with just one over remaining and the twilight closing in. With fielders hovering all round the bat, Gurney span the ball this way and that, two deliveries actually bouncing over the top of the stumps. But it wasn’t to be, and the game ended in that most English of climaxes, the ‘exciting draw’.

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Batting
Player Runs How out
Robert Tidey 39 Bowled
Pete Demetri 4 LBW
Matthew Cragoe 29 LBW
Taran Persaud 12 Caught
Paul Irons 92 Caught
John Roche 9 Bowled
Mike Walton 3 Caught
Justin Gurney 5* 
Did Not Bat
Nick Tidey
Peter Kloss
Richard Jones
Partnerships
Wkt Runs Batsmen
1 34 Robert Tidey  &  Pete Demetri
2 25 Robert Tidey  &  Matthew Cragoe
3 37 Matthew Cragoe  &  Taran Persaud
4 72 Matthew Cragoe  &  Paul Irons
5 36 Paul Irons  &  John Roche
6 8 Paul Irons  &  Mike Walton



Fielding
Player Cts Wkt Cts Stmps
Pete Demetri 1 - -
Justin Gurney 2 - -
John Roche - 1 -
Nick Tidey 1 - -
Mike Walton 1 - -
Bowling
Player Overs Mdns Runs Wkts
Justin Gurney 11.0 2 45 4
Pete Demetri 5.0 0 26 2
Nick Tidey 7.0 4 14 0
Peter Kloss 7.0 0 43 2
Richard Jones 6.0 0 19 1
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