We lost the toss and Grace's were inserted (maybe their captain wanted to wrap the game up in time for England v France, as we have yet to beat Washington). Camberwell opened the innings with Stockinger on a warm afternoon on a flat strip. Camberwell, eager for more runs, slashed at a wide ball in the second over and second slip hung on to a sharp chance, bringing Rishafi in. After a brief cameo he was caught after getting a big edge. Hardisty came in and after hesitating over a single paid the price, departing run out for a duck!
Shofiq entered the fray and after a few useful shots played over one and was bowled. Bielby joined Stockinger, who in the meantime had kept the scoreboard ticking along, and together took the score to respectability against some useful bowling. Stockinger eventually tickled one to the keeper and then Silva spanked a couple of boundaries before being caught. Bielby batted resolutely before being one of wily spinner Guerney's 4 victims. Curtis managed a single before being bowled, and Rice hit two cracking boundaries before falling the same way. Wingrove got off the mark before becoming Guerney's last victim. This bought the final total to 144, helped by 38 extras! Grace's realised we would have to bowl tightly to defend this score – over 200 might have been defendable.
Last season's century-maker Demetri looked in ominous form, but fortunately the other batsman looked fallible. Bielby caught Campbell off Shofiq, and Grague was run out at the non-striker's end after the ball was deflected onto the stumps. Stackurski then hung around with Demetri to take the scores close. Demetri was then caught off Rishafi for 65 and Silva bowled Stackurski, followed back by Burton LBW to Rishafi, who finished with 3 for 45.
Washington however made it home by 5 wickets and it was off to Central Station to watch the game! We’ll take them next season!