Washington Cricket Club - 40th Anniversary Year

Peter Kloss Reporting

Earlier, Washington spinners Justin Gurney (2-12) and Eric Stoughton (2-15) had taken a stranglehold on the Aldenham innings and Washington had caught and fielded well to restrict the target. However without the power and authority in Hill's batting the result would have been a lot closer.

Washington, taking their name from the pub on England's Lane in Belsize Park, started well against Aldenham, a lovely Hertfordshire village close to Watford. Captain Justin Gurney won the toss and chose to field. Aldenham scored slowly throughout their innings. The seam bowlers, Peter Kloss (1-19), Shawn Hill (1-9), Tony Burt (2-19) and Gratten McCoach (0-14) stuck to their task and  took the first three Aldenham wickets. Debutant Burt made the notable achievement of a wicket from his first ever ball for the Washington. However the pick of the bowlers were the spinners Justin Gurney (2-12) and Eric Stoughton (2-15). Both turned the ball considerably on this slow soft pitch and beat the bat with regularity. In the 12 overs that they bowled in tandem, Washington had a strong stranglehold on the game. The top Aldenham batsman was 14 year old Munroe who batted with maturity beyond his years, scoring 20 stylish runs.

Washington also fielded well taking 5 catches and running out 2 batsmen, Hill taking two of the catches. Russell Pendry (0-23) also bowled a few overs and was unlucky not to pick up his first wicket of the season. Aldenham were all out for 115.

Washington lost four batsmen very quickly against excellent medium-fast bowling from Naudi and Morgan. Don Campbell (2) was bowled playing no stroke, Af Nasseem (3) went for a suicidal run, and Tony Harris and Brad Hitchcock were both caught for ducks.

Shawn Hill then took control of the innings and found able partners in Gratten McCoach (14), Tony Burt (11) and Justin Gurney (20*). All these batsmen reached the boundary more than once, but Hill was still the star, hitting four 6's and five 4's. Three balls were lost in the oil seed rape fields surrounding the small Aldenham ground.

Skipper Gurney said after the game “A comfortable victory thanks to Hilly. It's great that we have this sort of firepower in our middle order. The fielding was good today also, but I am looking for a bit more consistency from some of the batters and bowlers”.

This was the first meeting of these two sides and after some good conversation over a few drinks it was agreed that a follow-up fixture should be arranged for next season.

Man of the match: Shawn Hill, for a powerful unbeaten and match-winning innings, a wicket and two catches

Packing the kit: Tony Harris, for a duck and two dropped catches

Washington: Af Nasseem, Don Campbell, Tony Harris, Gratten McCoach, Brad Hitchcock (+), Shawn Hill, Tony Burt, Justin Gurney (c), Peter Kloss, Russell Pendry, Eric Stoughton