Washington Cricket Club - 40th Anniversary Year

The Wash came badly unstuck against UCS Old Boys in North West London on Saturday.  Having conceded a massive deficit of 246 bowling first in this 40 over contest, they were dismissed for just 112. The losing margin of 135 looked as bad on paper as it felt in real life.

Washington won the toss and elected to bowl – a decision that looked fully justified as the slow pace of the pitch induced a series of false shots form the UCS openers and delivered Sam Clark (1-28) an early victim. However, the batting side slowly mastered the conditions, Craig (75), Irfan (34) and David Goldsmith (76 not out) using their feet well and driving powerfully whenever opportunity presented itself.

Washington’s attack was unable to apply any kind of brake to the scoring rate, which remained constant at around 6 an over throughout.  Occasional successes came the visitors’ way:  Russell Pendry (2-56) picked up a brace of wickets, both courtesy of good catches by skipper Shawn Hill,  and Hill himself finished with 1-44 after bowling Chapman for 7. 

Washington’s reply got off to an ominously slow start.  Chris Davies (23) and Matthew Cragoe (7) added 27 for the first wicket until the latter was run out in the tenth over.  However, later batters were equally unable to assert themselves, and the home bowling attack was never exposed to the kind of searching examination that might have revealed its limitations.

There were bright moments from Glenn Matthews (19) and Ash Cruikshank (19), while  Luke Mitchell (6 not out) struck some eye-catching blows towards the end of the innings.   

But it all ended to soon from a Washington perspective, the final wicket falling in the 33^rd over, and the scorebook bearing the indelible signs of a most horrible massacre.