Washington Cricket Club - 40th Anniversary Year

Peter Kloss reporting.

It was a lovely day for the Wash to get their season going properly with their first full day game. If it wasn’t for the slight chill in the air you would have thought it was a sunny July day. The pitch was good, but a little soft, and as is usual early season it played rather slowly, with not a single edged chance going to the keeper or slip all day.

Stand-in skipper Peter Kloss lost the toss and Washington were asked to field. Max Murrain (1-50) found good line and length immediately, in stark contrast to Naveed Mir at the other end whose first 5 balls (yes five) were called wide. In fact Nav never really found his rhythm and was replaced by Peter Kloss (1-37) in the 9th over.

Highgate were not scoring particularly quickly against the tight swing bowling, but Washington had to wait until the 17th over, when Stuart Marsh (2-52) replaced Max, for their first wicket. In fact Swampy grabbed another in his next over, Aff Naseem taking a simple catch at mid-wicket, to leave Highgate on 72 for 2 at 20 over drinks. Debutant Andrew Walsh had generously agreed to take the gloves, despite not having kept for quite a while. This turned out to be a good decision as he made an excellent job of it.

Russell Pendry (1-34) replaced Kloss and bowled a really excellent spell against batsmen who were looking to hit out. He gained a wicket, caught at long on by juggler Max, and this was much the most accurate and testing few overs from Russ for quite a while, promising much for the season to come. Marsh was punished in his final over, bowling a little short and suffering with the short boundary on his on-side. Andy Crook (0-24) replaced him and bowled a good, tight spell. He achieved his first ever maiden in competitive cricket, and was so chuffed he bowled another the very next over! However he remained wicketless, and Murrain and Kloss returned to bowl the final 8 overs of the innings. Both took wickets to improve the respectability of their figures.

Highgate declared on 221 for 5 after 43 overs, as the format (league rules) required them to do. Washington would have a full 40 overs to bat, with all results possible, including the draw.

Following the usual excellent Highgate tea, Tony ‘Kiwi’ Harris and Tom Harper took their guard. Having seen the slowness in the pitch, the Highgate skipper had no close catchers and everyone saving the single. Harper (5) looked comfortable, but following one boundary he pulled and miss-timed a short ball straight to mid-wicket. He was replaced by Andrew Walsh (6) who also looked comfortable, but was then dismissed LBW. There was a strong suggestion of an inside edge, but he accepted his fate gracefully. Both Tom and Andrew felt they had missed out on this day.

Kiwi (13) hit three boundaries but was also then out, bowled, trying to hit another. He was followed fairly quickly by Lee Fogarty (7) who misjudged a slower ball, and Naveed Mir (0) who swung the bat wildly 5 times without connecting, the 5th ball being the first on the line of the stumps. Washington looked down and out at 49 for 5 after 12 overs – seasoned followers of the club will know that in recent years such innings have regularly ended meekly on total scores significantly below 100.

Today was to be different however.

Aff Naseem was already at the wicket, calmly stroking the ball along the ground and threading the field, and he was joined by Max Murrain. Aff and Max proceeded to build a strong partnership, starting slowly, but then with increased confidence. Aff, as the senior player, scored the lion’s share of their 92 run match-saving partnership. However Max showed great patience and maturity in staying with him through 18 overs. Both did exactly what was needed in these circumstances, and it was a real gritty rear-guard effort by both, much needed by the rest of the team.

Max eventually went LBW for 28. Andy Crook (5) hit a boundary before being bowled, and he was replaced by Stuart Marsh. At this point the score was 158 for 7 with 7 overs remaining. Having said they were going to shut up shop, Aff and Marshy scored a quick fire 30 in 4 overs, Aff hitting two strong 6s. However 35 were required from the final 3 overs, which was just too much of an ask under the circumstances, and the innings ended tamely to seal the draw for the Wash. Aff finished on 77 not out and Marsh 17 not out.

Skipper Kloss was left wondering what might have been had a better partnership developed earlier in the top order. But given the 49 for 5 scoreline he was grateful for the rescue job delivered by Aff and Max, and the drawn match to maintain Wash’s unbeaten start to the season.

Man of the Match: Controversial decision here. A close run thing, but I’m going for Max for his 12 overs of solid bowling, a catch, and the responsibility shown in grafting out 28 runs in the match-saving partnership with Aff. Sorry Aff, it was a great innings – you’ve done it before and you’ll do it again I’m sure!

Packing the Kit: Trigger (you know who you are)