Washington Cricket Club - 40th Anniversary Year

Dodging the heavy rain showers, Washington won on Saturday in South West London, taking the final NPL wicket on the penultimate ball of the match. From the headline score this looks like an easy win for the team, but this was not always the case. Batting first the Wash were in some trouble at 77 for 5 before an unbroken century partnership between Brad Hitchcock (77*, a lifetime best) and Taran Persaud (32*) enabled a competitive declaration. Then when NPL batted they were going along well at 77 for 1 with 18 overs of the last 20 remaining, before Sandeep Kuckreja (4-10) and Peter Kloss (2-14) ripped through the middle order, assisted by two Gary Malcolm catches in the gully. Taran Persaud (1-4) and Tobe Mariner (1-0) finished off the job, Mariner clean bowling NPL's stubborn no.11 with the fifth ball of the final over.

The start was delayed by over an hour due to lunchtime rain showers, and additionally an artificial strip on the edge of the square had to be used, there being too much surface dampness on the intended grass wicket. The match was being played at excellent facilities at the NPL (National Physics Laboratory) ground in Teddington. Wash captain Peter Kloss lost the toss and was put in.

The Washington did not start well. After 15 overs the total was 77, but 5 wickets had been lost, Aff Naseem (4), Sandeep Kuckreja (26) and Peter Kloss (15) all being caught from unforced aerial shots. Additionally Tobe Mariner (7) and debutant Jimmy Owen (4) were clean bowled. However at this point Brad Hitchcock joined Taran Persaud. They started their partnership cautiously, to not lose further wickets, but once they got the measure of the true and evenly paced astroturf wicket they both grew in confidence. Hitchcock especially hit a number of 4s and three big 6s, not all to the short boundary on one side of the ground. Persaud (32*) played an excellent supporting role, accumulating singles and giving more of the strike to Hitchcock. The batsmen rode their luck with 2 or 3 catching chances going just out of reach of fielders, but this aggressive batting was just what the Wash innings needed. In fact it was only the second century partnership of the season for the club. Hitchcock (77*, a lifetime best score for the Aussie) really let loose to allow an early declaration and 57 runs were scored in the last 5 overs. Washington declared after 31 overs on 188 for 5.

More rain fell during tea and the players returned to now a very wet square. Thankfully play could continue on the artificial strip but the match ball was wet for the whole of the NPL innings.

Dominic Butcher (1-22) and Andy Rowlett (0-26) opened the bowling. Butcher took a wicket in the first over, the NPL opener playing on, but then father and son combination (Brown R. and J.) built a solid partnership. Despite extracting significant bounce from the wicket and a number of balls flying through the slip and gully areas, Butcher was not able to break through further. Rowlett's spell was much improved from his previous efforts for the club and promised much for the future – he was unlucky not to take his first wicket with a number of balls passing the outside edge and a catch just dropping short behind. Rowlett was replaced by Manish Arneja (0-8) who also bowled good medium pace which the batsmen found difficult to get away.

NPL had advanced to 77 for 1 with 18 overs now remaining. The rate required was just over 6 an over and an NPL victory now looked possible, but the draw more likely. However the introduction of Peter Kloss (2-14) and Sandeep Kuckreja (4-10) into the attack changed the course of the game. Sandeep especially bowled fast and straight to tie the batsmen down, but it was the unexpected slower balls which were the batsmen's undoing. Brown J. mistimed a drive to cover off Kloss and Gary Malcolm took two looping catches at gully off Sandeep. It was excellent that Malcolm was able to contribute, an ankle injury preventing him from bowling on this day. Sandeep also clean bowled two batsmen with his faster ball – in fact he was on a hat-trick at one stage.

With 2 wickets remaining to be taken Kloss turned to Persaud (1-4) and Tobe Mariner (1-0). With Teddington now having no hope of making the runs all fielders were crowded around the bat and a sense of anticipated victory began to build. The slower pace and turn of Persaud deceived the NPL captain who was bowled and in the final over Mariner bowled a series of accurate medium pace balls from around the wicket. The no.11 was able to keep the first few out, but with 2 balls of the match remaining he missed one and was bowled. The Washington team erupted with the last gasp victory achieved.

Skipper Kloss was happy, saying after the game “Batting at 77 for 5 I thought we were going to lose, and then at the beginning of the last 20 overs I thought the game was going to drift into a dull draw. It was a real team performance which turned the situation into a victory opportunity created and then achieved. Well done to everyone!”

Man of the match: Brad Hitchcock, for saving the Washington innings with his 77*

Packing the kit: Tobe Mariner, for arriving late, but being lucky that the game was delayed anyway!

Washington: Aff Naseem, Sandeep Kuckreja, Tobe Mariner, Jimmy Owen, Peter Kloss (c), Taran Persaud, Brad Hitchcock (+), Dominic Butcher, Manish Arneja, Andy Rowlett, Gary Malcolm