The unheard of happened this week as FP’s 2nd XI found themselves with way too many players to choose from for the away match against Academy at the Duthie Park.
Late to arrive this week was our resident Professor in History who can quote dates and places of battles most folk have never heard of, but failed to remember where our Saturday afternoon battlefield was to be.
The FP’s team showed three changes from the Stonehaven victory, Muthu replaced Fraser behind the stumps, Keiran Whyte came in for Paul McDonald, and in for Rizwan came debutant Tom Booth, a batsman / bowler who can also keep wicket, but whose street cred took a dive when he arrived with 12th man John Davey wearing Smurf ‘style’ woolie hats. Where were they all coming from? Looked like from Strathallen on the run.
The toss was lost and FP’s were asked to bat. Experienced duo John Lord and Rob Fryer went in to bat, and in only the second over Lord played down the wrong line and edged Aftab behind for 3 runs, FP’s 3-1. Muthu joined Fryer but the bowling was very tight on a slow, low wicket and after Fryer also got an outside edge, but this time to first slip, FP’s were 9-2 off 7 overs, Fryer scoring 2 runs. Bowlers Aftab and Singh gave very little away, although new batsman Kieran Whyte hit an Aftab full toss for four, he seemed to change his mind half way through a drive two balls later, and was caught and bowled by Aftab for 6 runs, FP’s 18-3, 10 overs.
At this stage it looked like a low score was very likely, and even last weeks top scorer Karthik was finding it difficult to time the ball, or pierce the field. Tagpal replaced Singh, and in his first over Karthik scored a six, two runs plus four overthrows, welcome runs for an increasingly frustrated FP’s. To add to the pressure, Academy’s Sunni Bedi bowled 4 overs for 5 runs, FP’s total after 19 overs, 29-3. Soon after Karthik was out LBW to Sunni Bedi for 14 (2×4, 1×6), FP’s struggling badly on 46-4.
Debutant Booth joined the very patient Muthu, and cometh the hour, cometh the man. Booth showed no respect to any of the Academy bowlers, playing shots all round the wicket, and scoring boundaries almost at will. Runs came thick and fast and Muthu also joined in the fun, pinching very cheeky ‘Muthu’ singles with Booth, and turning one’s into two’s as Academy went into shock. The fifth wicket partnership had raised 113 runs in a mere 14 overs when Booth was out for a rapid 76. He stroked 9×4’s and 2×6’s, one of the sixes a perfectly timed, effortless leg side flick, a real collectors item.
Unfortunately next over Muthu was bowled by opening bowler Sing having played a vital innings of 35 (3×4’s) mixing great patience with opportunist running despite having a recurrence of his ankle injury.
New batsmen Aly MacDonald and Mike Phillips continued the good scoring rate with strong drives and good running, MacDonald 10 not out, Phillips 11 not out. FP’s declared on 191 – 6 off 45 overs, a total which never seemed likely at one stage.
Following a good tea, FP’s opened the bowling with MacDonald and Rubesh, and in his first over Rubesh should have had Aftab caught at slip, but the chance was spilled. Soon after Sunny was dropped at square leg, and the two batsmen gave few real chances as they scored quickly, the fifty coming up in 10 overs. It was not until the 22nd over that FP’s took the first wicket when Mike Phillips caught and bowled Aftab for 44 (5×4), and two overs later had S. Sing beautifully taken by a diving Whyte at short third man. Phillips was on a roll, and Kanisk was given LBW for 1, quickly followed by opener Sunny caught by MacDonald for a well struck 72 (10×4). Following Phillips great spell, there was now a glimmer of hope for FP’s and pace man Booth was brought back into the attack. While Booth is in the middle fast scoring follows, and unfortunately the fast scoring continued and in a sad attempt to avoid buying a jug of beer to celebrate his fifty runs scored, he conceded enough runs in the ‘over’ to lower his personal contribution to 49. You do the arithmatic!
The uncensored bowling analysis; Rubesh 4-0-28-0, MacDonald 5-1-22-0, Whyte 8-0-32-0, Magesh 2-0-14-0, Phillips 6.2-1-30-4, Karthik 4-0-18-0. Pick of the bowlers was Phillips with four wickets and Whyte will take wickets if he maintains his tight line and length.
Man of the Match – Papa Booth’s batting was outstanding.
Champagne Moment – Booth’s six off his legs
