FP’s first home game of the season was against Stonehaven 2nd XI. The team showed 5 changes from the Gordonians match, out went Russell, Whyte, Waji, Houghton, and Frizzell who had injured a finger while keeping wicket the previous week.
In to the team came Aly MacDonald, Karthik, Rizwan, Craig Fraser as wicketkeeper, and debutant Paul McDonald from Yorkshire, who had impressed at nets.
Stonehaven had requested a midday start, and winner of the ‘Late to Arrive, Last to bat’ award was Magesh. The toss was lost by Stonehaven, who were asked to bat on a cold, windy day at Rubislaw.
MacDonald opened the bowling from the Cromwell Road end and immediately found a good line and length, his first 4 overs going for only 7 runs, with both batsmen playing and missing and several edges avoiding the slip cordon.
Rubesh, opening the bowling from the Pavilion end, could have had a wicket with his first ball when Coulthard edged to Lord as second slip who was just unable to hold onto a sharp chance to his right. Rubesh was bowling with pace and accuracy, and like MacDonald, was unlucky with several edges not going to hand.
After 7 overs, it was just beginning to look like Stonehaven were going to survive the opening spell but it was Rubesh who finally struck, literally, when he got sharp lift off the ‘Rubislaw Roller’ and hit opener Gibson a painful blow in the ribs. He struck again next ball with a full length ball which bowled Gibson. Next ball was an equally good delivery which comprehensively bowled new batsman Conn, Stonehaven suddenly 13-2. The hat trick ball was resolutely defended by D. Long Jnr.
McDonald was given a well earned break having bowled an excellent 5-0-8-0, beating the bat regularily. Karthik came on to bowl from the Cromwell Road end but could not find his normal line and length and was replaced by Magesh after 4 overs.
Rubesh had bowled a good accurate spell, beating the bat regularly, and getting lift and movement off the wicker, his spell 6-1-11-2. Rizwan replaced Rubesh, and in his third over knocked over the leg stump of D. Long Jnr for 3, Stonehaven 45 – 3 off 18 overs.
The FP’s bowling was very tight, Magesh and Rizwan going for only 26 runs off 14 overs, when Mike Phillips came on for Rizwan (7-1-10-1). Phillips took a wicket in his second over by having stubborn opener Coulthard caught behind off his gloves by keeper Fraser for 38 runs, Stoney 67 – 4 off 30 overs.
Magesh should have had a wicket when he and Johnston committed a schoolboy error by leaving a catch to each other. But Magesh(11-1-26-2) finally got a well deserved wicket when he bowled S. Kerr for 12, and a second wicket 5 runs later when, N. King was brilliantly caught at cover by Karthik who did a Rizwan, by holding the ball at the second attempt while falling backwards, Stoney 80 – 6 off 35 overs.
Rubesh (10-1-19-3) came back for a second spell, replacing Phillips (7-0-18-1), and with his third ball bowled the stubborn D. Long Snr for 6. Next batsman in was diminutive junior player Plummer, who suddenly emerged from the undergrowth/outfield to take guard. Plummer batted with a nice straight bat, and it took a very sharp one handed catch by Rizwan at backward short leg off McDonald (8-0-19-1) to dismiss him, Stoney 113 – 8 off 45 overs. Batsman A. Long was striking out and hit a big 6 over long off as Stonehaven began to run out of overs, Long finishing on a well struck 27 n.o. with C. Finlay 2 n.o. Stonehaven final score 119 – 8 off 46 overs.
FP’s bowled well from the start, putting Stonehaven under severe pressure to score runs. The bowling was tighter, still a few too many wides though. The fielding on the whole was good on a cold day, although the long grass and uneven outfield made it awkward at times. Keeper Fraser saved several runs from the more wayward deliveries, and new FP’s McDonald looked keen in the field.
Lord declared himself fit to open the batting with Fryer, but in the 3rd over was beaten by an inswinger from bowler King and was given out LBW for a duck. Debutant McDonald’s batting technique was given a good test by Stonehaven left arm swing bowler King and right arm bowler Findlay. Fryer and McDonald had added 20 runs when McDonald, having played some nice shots off his legs, was bowled by Findlay for 13. Two balls later, we were not loving it when FP’s other MacDonald was also bowled by Findlay for a duck. Another wicket at this stage would have been interesting, but Fryer and Karthik looked solid and saw off the Stoney opening bowlers spells. Runs began to flow and Karthik was in aggressive mood, while Fryer kept the other end tight.
The fourth wicket had added 69 runs when Fryer was finally out bowled by Findlay who had just returned as a last attempt to break the match winning partnership. Fryer scored an obdurate 12 runs (1×4), an innings Sir Geoffrey Boycott would have well satisfied with.
Four runs later, Karthik was bowled by King, the double bowling change bearing dividends. Karthik scored 44, timing the ball very well, hitting seven fours through a long damp outfield.
Fraser joined the positive Phillips, but was soon out for a single, bowled by Finlay in his last over. Phillips brought FP’s to within 2 runs of victory when he was bowled by D. Long for a well struck 18 (1×4). Rizwan scored the winning run ending 1 n.o. with Johnston 3 n.o. FP’s total 120 – 7 off 40.2 overs.
This was a well deserved first win of the season for FP’s set up by excellent bowling and sensible batting, mixed with controlled aggression. The first win in Grade 3 was always going to be important, and FP’s should take a lot of confidence from this performance.
Man of the Match – Karthik, match winning 44 runs, great catch and good fielding.
Champagne Moment – Karthik’s catch
