Washington – Won by 23 runs

Morale boosting win!

On a balmy summer afternoon, under a cloudless sky and with Gordon winning the 
toss, the spectators (both of us) looked forward to a run-fest. Washington it 
seemed had other ideas and with the wicket in a particularly capricious mood, 
allowing little and on occasion, almost no bounce at all, so it was that after 5 
overs, Graces openers Gordon and Dominic were both back in the pavilion with 
just 3 runs on the board. Stalwarts Shofiq and Mendis set about redeeming the 
situation with some responsible batting. With the score on 43 however, Shofiq
played an in-judicious shot and was caught at deep mid-off for 24. Joined by 
Niroshan, Mendis went on to play his best knock of the season. The pair added 67 
for the fourth wicket before another fine catch ended the innings of Mendis for 
56. This brought Manish to the crease, who immediately set off for a run that 
wasn't there, leaving Niroshan with no where to go but the pavilion for a well 
struck 21. Wickets continued to fall at a steady rate, with Manish making 13 and 
Anosh 16 before the innings closed in the thirty eighth over for a competitive 
154.     
Because of   the state of the wicket Gordon decided to open the bowling with a combination of 
seam and spin. Anosh's first spell of 3 overs went for 17 to be replaced by 
Nihara who's 2 overs went for 18. At the other end Shofiq's  first 5 overs went 
for 1 run, that a miss field and 3 wickets including the dangerous Hill, 
finishing his 8 overs with figures of 3 for 9. Manish and Mendis carried on the 
good work with tight spells of 2 for 28 and 1 for 15 respectively from their 8 
overs. It was left to skipper Gorden and Anosh  to claim 3 of the last 4 wickets 
to fall, before a further crazy run out brought proceedings to an end with the 
visitors 23 runs short of their target.