Washington Cricket Club - 40th Anniversary Year

(Note: photos courtesy of Luke Mitchell are available on the Flickr site - see the link on the home page)

Shawn Hill reporting.

On a beautiful day at a beautiful ground down in Tilford, Surrey, the Wash Machine assembled to usher in the start of the 2009 cricket season. With no less than 5 new members the Washington team donned their whites and took to the field after the skipper won the toss on a gloriously sunny day. It was many a pair of cricket boots that sighed with musty relief at finally getting taken out of the cricket kit after a long winter.

Although the weather had certainly played a part in getting everyone excited for the game it was a typically early season cricket pitch that greeted the opening bowlers. With not much help either in the air or off the pitch the opening bowlers, debutants Luke Mitchell (6 overs for 16 runs) and Sam Clarke, put in an impressive opening spell that tied the opposition down. Alas, it was without breakthrough that the first change bowlers came on to bowl. Stephen Coyle (7 overs for 19) struggled at first but soon got rid of the cobwebs and settled into rhythm. At the other end the skipper, Hilly (1 for 3 in 5 overs), took the ball and send a few overs down to gauge what the pitch was up to. After a few optimistic and pleading appeals the first wicket went down to an LBW with 48 runs on the board. Last year’s bowler of the season, Russell Pendry, also found the cobwebs to be hampering his bowling arm and struggled to 4 overs for 32 as the opposition looked to up their scoring tempo. Bowling in tandem with the miserly Peter Kloss (6 overs for 10 runs) might also have had some impact on his figures though as the batsman though as Peter bowled superbly, regularly beating the bat. At this stage, Chad Bhaskar, who had been doing a sterling job behind the stumps, switched keeping duties took over bowling duties from one end. Sam Clarke returned for his second spell and took the only other wicket to fall on the day, a skied catch that Ash Cruickshank, who had dropped everything thrown at him all day, hold on to a ball at mid-on that came down with a little snow on it. Ash seemed to have a ball magnet on him as the ball chased him around the field all day as he gave an excellent display of committed fielding. There was a rush for runs in the last few overs seeing Chad ending on 3 overs for 21 runs and Sam with 1 for 50 in his 12 overs. Sam’s excellent speel should be put in perspective though and were it not for his last over he would have returned the excellent figures of 1 for 30 in 11. This saw the opposition post a score of 171 runs for 2 wickets in 45 overs. Chris Davis also bowled and enough said about that. Still getting used to being out in the field for 45 overs, it was with some relief that Washington left the field to enjoy a fabulous tea.

The job of opening the batting for the Washington fell to Chris Davies and Chad Bhaskar but the Wash Machine was soon in trouble at 2 for 16. Both Chad and debutant Mark Cumming struggled to get to grips with the slow sticky nature of early season English wickets. Chad was caught for 0 and Mark bowled for 9, which included 2 spanking fours which were hopefully a sign of his season ahead.

This saw the skipper out at the crease to join Chris, who had been playing himself in with a watchful innings, as the two of them set about to steady the innings. At first their partnership galloped along, Hilly finding the middle with the third ball he faced and sending it over the scoreboard for 6. In the middle of their partnership some good bowling from Tilford’s Alex McDonald (who bowled his first 6 overs for 15 runs) tied them down for a little while. In trying to get the score moving again Chris perished for a well played 42 and a partnership of 76 in 16 overs. Luke Mitchell was next to come to the wicket and left without troubling the scorers in his first knock for the Wash. This left the Wash  on 103 runs for 4 wickets with only 13 overs of the last 20 remaining and 69 runs to get. Stephen Coyle joined the skip in the middle and after reaching his 50 Hilly put the accelerator down and punished any wayward bowling severely. This saw him reach his 100 with a pulled 6 into the pub beside the ground. The next ball, however, saw him out to a superb catch by the young Tilford wicketkeeper for a well played 101.  Coyle and Hill had put on a 63 run partnership in 9 overs but the Wash, in sight of the finishing post, were now 166 for 5 with another 6 runs to get in 4 overs. The chairman, Peter Kloss, joined Coyle who, after a few initial lusty swings-and-misses was starting to get bat to ball. The next 2 overs saw the Wash get the winning runs with Coyle ending on 12 not out and Peter Kloss on 2. 

A match well played and a great team effort by the Wash was celebrated by all in the pub afterwards as Hilly had to buy a couple of jugs to celebrate his ton after a lean 2008 season with the bat. Thanks to all who played and congratulations to the Wash for beating Tilford for the first time in 3 seasons.

Man of the match: Shawn Hill, for a great century

Packing the kit: Mark Cumming, for standing at second slip watching Glucky having to chase a ball to third man that had got past him at first slip. You’ll learn Mark.