Washington Cricket Club - 40th Anniversary Year

Ash Cruickshank reporting.

A glorious day greeted the Wash on their (eventual) arrival for their maiden game against Old Elthamians. After being sent in to bat on what look to be a nice strip, the Wash got off to a quick start with a 46 run partnership between Mark Cumming and Ash Cruickshank before the latter was bowled for 20.  Brian White joined Mark and the two quickly moved the score along taking advantage of anything loose.  The Old Elthamians cause was not helped by a few dropped catches and Brian and Mark took full toll of these errors to take the score to 187 after 27 overs.  However, the introduction of spinner Gaywood paid immediate dividends with White being trapped in front by one that kept low and departing for 44.  However, there was no let up as Chris Davis joined Mark and the two continued the fast paced scoring before Chris was dismissed for 36 with the Wash already in a strong position on 249 for 3.

Lee Fogarty came and went quickly after being run-out by an excellent direct hit at the non-strikers end which left Mark waiting for the next batsman and wondering about his ride home.  Debutant Simon Rider, one of the many Kiwis recruited this winter then joined Mark and played some nice shots continue the fast pace.  As Mark reached his 150, Skipper Davis declared the innings closed after 35 overs (despite it being a 40 over game) due to concerns about the light due to the late start and delays in finding the ball after Mark's many cracking shorts into the shrubbery.  Mark Cumming showed his intent to challenge for batsman of the year with an excellent 152* with Simon Rider on 5* and the Wash in a strong position defending 279.

After an excellent tea, the Wash quickly showed that they wanted to finish the innings before the light faded with some quality opening bowling by Sam Clark and Sandeep Kuckreja supported by tight fielding.  Clark struck first to dismiss Alder (5) and Fowle (1) with fine catches by Cruickshank and Davis.  The Colonel bamboozled the opposition mixing his near unplayable slower one with some sharp accurate bowling and was soon rewarded by knocking over Palumbo (12) followed next ball by Worf (0) caught behind by Chad Bhaskar.  While missing the hat-trick, he continued his sharp spell to get Garrett (16) to finish with a excellent 3 for 22.

The Old Elthamian Skipper Alger dug in and showed grit with a lovely 52 punishing anything short and started to get his team thinking about the target they were chasing.  However, wickets continued to drop around him with new keeper Chad Bhaskar displaying an alert piece of work to stump Gaywood (12) after he was beaten by 2008 Washington Bowler of the year Russell Pendry.  The Skipper Alger was finally dismissed clean bowled by Clark who finished with an impressive 4 for 20.  After spells by debutants Phil Hamlet (0-29) and Simon Rider (0-10), Lee Fogarty then came on to dismiss Fowle (12) after the young kid had put him away a few times.  I'm still trying to work out of the loud 'TAKE THAT' which followed was a send off for the 13 year old lad or a political statement in support of Robbie Williams.  But the sharp ground level catch by Mark Cumming made amends for the earlier run-out and ensured he didn't have to enquire about National Rail services home.  Fogs then got Yates to pop up an easy one to Cruickshank to finish the Old Elthamians gallant effort at all out for 182.

Man of the Match - Mark Cumming for his punishing 152 not out, the 3rd highest score ever by a Washington batsman

Packing the kit - Chad, Simon and Phil for their late arrival which helped conspire to the late start…