Prolific Washington batsman George Hope achieved an amazing feat on Saturday, scoring the first ever double century for the Washington in its 35 year history. Hope hit 209, breaking his own club record for the highest individual score by a batsman. Curiously this was against the same opposition two years previously. George peppered the boundary with great regularity, scoring 12 sixes and 25 fours. One massive six took the ball over a warehouse building adjoining the ground in Chiswick, the ball never to be seen again. However it wasn’t all plain-sailing for Hope who looked out of touch in his early overs, finding it difficult to locate the middle of his bat. Also, in contrast to his first record a couple of seasons ago, this innings was not chanceless. Hope was almost out caught on 2-3 occasions and, if the opposition were honest with themselves, really should have been. In the second half of his innings Hope was in majestic form and many shots came squarely out of the middle. George had ridden his luck and was well deserving of his achievement in the end. Early in Washington’s innings Hope had found it difficult to find partners, Tony Harris (11), Paul Irons (3) and David Gluckman (5) all departing cheaply. At 76 for 3 after 15 overs the score looked respectable but nothing particularly unusual. However in Sandeep Kuckreja (56) and Tony Burt (41*) Hope had the solid back-up he sought. Indeed both Kuckreja and Burt tucked in themselves to some ordinary Elthorne Park bowling. Hope and Kuckreja put on a 153 run partnership and Hope and Burt 101 as the scoring rate in the second half of the innings averaged around 14 per over. Hope was eventually out caught in the 34th over as he miscued yet another attempt at a big shot. Brad Hitchcock (3*) played out the final over with Burt. When Washington bowled it was quickly apparent that Elthorne Park would be unable to match Washington’s fire. Openers Peter Kloss (2-20) and Max Murrain (3-30) ripped through the top order with some penetrative swing and seam bowling, and then Tony Burt (2-13) and Eric Stoughton (1-7) completed the job. There were a couple of catches for Hope who, it seemed, could not be kept out of the game. Hope however did do his best to drop one of them, performing a triple juggling act before finally clinging on to the ball. Brad Hitchcock behind the stumps had a good game, taking a catch and making a smart stumping to finish the innings Elthorne Park were all out for only 71 in 18 overs and the margin of victory was huge. They did not seem too disheartened as the two teams shared a beer or two together after the game. Skipper Harris said after the game “Congratulations to George on his great achievement. To have scored so many runs in a 35 over game only is quite incredible. Once he found the middle of his bat it was just carnage for the bowlers out there”. Man of the match: George Hope for his historic innings of 209 Packing the kit: Max Murrain for being late (again) Washington: Tony Harris (c), George Hope, Paul Irons, Sandeep Kuckreja, Tony Burt, Brad Hitchcock (+), Peter Kloss, Max Murrain, Eric Stoughton
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