Following last week’s convincing win against Queens Cross 2nd XI, Grammar FP’s 2nd XI returned to Rubislaw for the Grade 3 match against Methlick 2nd XI. The FP’s line up showed two changes, out went injured Rizwan and the heavily expectant Karthik, and back in to the team came Mike Phillips and Tom Booth, playing his second game for FP’s.
Methlick captain Stewart Kennedy won the toss and invited FP’s to bat. The Rubislaw outfield looked good from a distance, a great distance, but it seems only a personal request from Donald Trump or Sir Ian Wood will result in the outfield being cut on a regular basis. As a member of the opposition commented, it seems a shame to have a beautiful pavilion and a dreadful outfield.
Unfortunately opener Johnston was out without troubling the outfield when he was bowled last ball of the first over by Buchan. The Methlick opening attack of Kennedy and Buchan were bowling tightly, and after 10 overs FP’s were 15-1. Batsmen Rob Fryer and Paul McDonald were being frustrated by the long, thick and damp grass, but just as they were beginning to score more freely, McDonald was bowled by new bowler S. Williams for 15 runs, a tally which would have been doubled on other grounds, FP’s 29-2 of 13 overs.
Tom Booth played himself in carefully before finding the gaps in the outfield, or more accurately infield, pinching several singles to the less athletic members of the Methlick team. At the other end Fryer was timing the ball nicely, but again was paying for a good technique with several of his drives slowing in the undergrowth. Fryer and Booth had added 22 runs when Fryer was out as he played on while cutting Williams, hitting 9×2 in his 20, being robbed of several boundaries. FP’s 51-3 off 19 overs.
John Davey joined Booth in the middle, and they continued the good work scampering singles at every opportunity, turning no runs into singles and singles into two runs. The tap and run was almost telepathic to which the wilting Methlick fielders had no answer, the telepathic must have felt more psychopathic as they batsmen showed no mercy in the sun.
It took 24 overs for FP’s to score the first boundary despite earlier well timed shots, when Booth pulled the ball high and safe behind square for four. The bowling by Methlick was still tight, and Booth was adjudged LBW to Tim Duffy for 36 (3×4’s). This was not the explosive innings Booth had played against Academy, Booth adapting his style to the match and field conditions in an intelligent manner.
With Muthu arriving at the crease, Davey’s stamina would be tested to the full, and the quick singles kept on coming. Davey was now beginning to play some great shots all round the wicket, the highlight a magnificent straight six off Kennedy.
After 35 overs the score was 124 – 4, and rising quickly as Muthu cleverly fed Davey the strike, usually off the first ball of the over, and Davey reached his first ever 50 in the process. With big hitters Phillips, Whyte and Marquart ready to come in, Davey began to cut loose, twice hitting opening bowler Buchan for 2 sixes in an over, three towering straight drives and a pull over the biggest boundary at midwicket as he raced through the 80’s and 90’s.
Methlick finally made the breakthrough when Muthu sacrificed his wicket being run out as Davey closed in on his century. Muthu scored 33 runs (1×4) in a partnership of 112 in only 13 overs.
Davey required 6 runs off the last 5 balls of the innings to reach his hundred, and after a mix up with the scorers still needed one run off the last ball. Having pinched umpteen singles in this innings, there was no way he was going to miss out on one last run, and he duly completed his well deserved century, finishing 100 n.o. (5×6’s, 3×4’s). FP’s final score 230 – 5 off 46 overs.
At 29-2 off 14 overs, a score well in excess of 200 looked impossible, but once Booth, Davey and Muthu got going, the score mounted rapidly, with the blitz at the end the icing on the cake. This was the first century scored for the 2nds in five long years, Davey scoring his first century for FP’s in a brilliant display of text book shots, a joy to watch.
FP’s knew that even with the run sapping outfield, Methlick had a match winning batsman in their captain Kennedy. Opening bowlers Whyte and Magesh bowled with good accuracy and after 9 overs the score was 31 – 0. Kennedy had just reminded everyone of his potential, hitting Whyte for a six and a four, when Magesh made the match turning breakthrough by having Kennedy caught at the second attempt by Davey at point for 17, Methlick 31-1.
Magesh took another wicket next over bowling Khader for a duck with a lovely off break. New batsman Duffy hit Whyte for a six, but two balls later Whyte got revenge by bowling Duffy with a cracker for 8, Methlick 40-3.
Opening batsman Buchan was next out off Magesh, caught at cover by Johnston for 11 runs, and Whyte had Aziz well caught by Marquart at point for 13. Magesh finished his spell with two wickets in one over, bowling Young for 8 and then Williams for a duck, Methlick collapsing to 68-7. Magesh took 5-36 in his best spell for FP’s bowling good line and length, varying his pace and using the wind to his advantage. At the other end Whyte’s pace and accuracy added pressure on the Methlick batsmen to score runs.
Doug Russell replaced the Mageshtic Magesh (Russell’s contribution to match report) and took a wicket in his first over bowling Shaw for 2. Mike Phillips also got in on the act by bowling Barrack for 3 and Colleydavis for 6, Methlick final score 84 all out, FP’s winning by a convincing 146 runs.
Bowling figures for FP’s, Whyte 12-3-31-2, Magesh 12-3-36-5, Russell 4-0-11-1, Phillips 3.1-0-5-2
Despite the headline acts, this was a great team effort with everyone scoring runs, taking wickets or holding catches, and the win keeps FP’s safe in mid-table.
Man of the Match – Sorry Magesh, but must go to Davey whose batting shone like a lamp. And all this with only one contact lens and a hangover.
Champagne Moment – A single required off the last ball of the match for a maiden hundred, no pressure then…
