Washington Cricket Club - 40th Anniversary Year

Washington were beaten by Berkhampstead on Sunday despite a creditable performance from the top order batsmen. George Hope (57) and Tony Harris (52) both notched up half centuries for the Wash, but the star batting performance was Berkhampstead's opener Hammond who carried his bat for 40 overs, scoring a chanceless 167 not out.

On a green but firm early season pitch in Hertfordshire Washington bowled first after winning the toss. Butcher (0-64) and Kloss (0-36) opened the bowling and both found the considerable slope running across the square difficult to cope with. Butcher particularly was wayward and couldn't find his rhythm. The opposition raced to 60 for no wicket after 10 overs. Terry Tidey (1-45) came on and achieved the first breakthrough with an LBW decision with the score on 91, although Kloss was unlucky to have 2 difficult catches put down in the field.

Grattan McCoach (0-41) bowled a few overs but also struggled to maintain line. Eric Stoughton (2-67) was the most successful of the Washington bowlers, particularly early in his spell. However the reality was that Berkhampstead (and particularly Hammond) scored well against everyone to maintain a high run rate. Surprisingly Paul Irons (0-24, 5 wickets last week) and George Hope (1-33) were the most expensive bowlers. 118 runs were scored in the last 10 overs as Hammond hit out. Berkhampstead were gifted 20-30 runs as some very poor ground fielding from the Wash allowed balls to cross the boundary. Throughout the innings Tony Harris behind the stumps was forced to dive full stretch both sides of the wicket to stop wayward balls. He did this with good success, although not able to stop the widest of balls of which there were a number.

When Washington batted they too got off to a flier as George Hope (57) and Paul Knight (14) hit 60 in the first 5 overs. Hope hit the first ball of the innings for 6, and 20 from the first over. However he skied a catch in the 8^th over and Knight was bowled soon after. There was then a 71 run partnership between Aff Naseem (20) and Tony Harris (52). Tony 'the Kiwi' was the senior partner frequently stroking the ball to the boundary with ease through mid-wicket and also straight past the bowler. Naseem played an excellent supporting role and Washington advanced steadily past 150 in the 22^nd over with only 2 wickets down.

The Wash were making a game of it at this point and Berkhampstead were a little rattled. Campbell then came on to bowl and managed to turn the game taking 4 for 21 in only 5 overs with his medium pace. He ripped through the middle order, only Paul Irons (46) with some lusty blows providing significant resistance. Taran Persuad (4), the injured Grattan McCoach (0, batting with a runner), Peter Kloss (3) and Dominic Butcher (7) all departed relatively quickly and Washington were now well behind the required rate. Eric Stoughton (8*) and Terry Tidey (6*) batted out the final 3 overs and the Wash ended on 250. Berkhampstead had a well deserved victory.

Skipper Peter Kloss said “A good showing with the bat today, but we gave far too many runs away with our wayward bowling and poor ground fielding. If they had scored 50 runs less it could well have been a very different game.”

Man of the match: Tony Harris for his 50 and some great work behind the stumps to stop those wayward balls

Packing the kit: The outfielders for a particularly poor performance – improvements required

Washington: George Hope, Paul Knight, Aff Naseem, Tony Harris (+), Paul Irons, Taran Persaud, Grattan McCoach, Peter Kloss (c), Dominic Butcher, Eric Stoughton, Terry Tidey