Grammar FP’s 2nd XI had home advantage for the Grade 3 match against Kintore 2nd XI, and the team line up had four changes from the previous match. Paul McDonald was promoted to the 1st XI, Tom Booth was working, Mike Phillips was injured, Magesh on holiday. The replacements were Rubesh and Harry Houghton who free from exams, Mike Hart free from work, and Rizwan was a late replacement for Karthik who was still on maternity leave.
Kintore skipper Thomas called tails at the toss and was invited to bat first. The weather was hot and sunny which helped dry out the clumps of grass cuttings on the outfield which had been cut 4 days earlier, but in need of a trim again, as noted by the opposition.
In form Kieran Whyte opened the bowling from the Cromwell Road end and soon had both opening batsmen playing and missing. At the other end, Rubesh showed no rustiness from his lay off and also troubled the batsmen.
But it took until the 9th over for FP’s to claim the first wicket, when Whyte held onto a sharp caught and bowled to dismiss Tanner for 8, Kintore score 24 – 1. In Whyte’s next over, Middleton was clean bowled for an aggressive 21 (4×4’s) Kintore 29 – 2. Two balls later Gray was also bowled by Whyte without scoring, and Kintore were struggling on 29 – 3.
Batsmen Guru and Cowie staged a mini recovery, with several attacking shots falling between fielders, before Rubesh pinned Guru in front of his stumps plumb LBW, and then took his second wicket next over bowling Raja for 1, Kintore 46 – 5.
Rizwan came on to replace Rubesh who was given a well earned break having bowled 9 – 0 – 26 – 2.
It took Rizwan only 7 balls to remove the stubborn Cowie for 7, Kintore 52 – 6. Rizwan went one better next over when he bowled both Davidson and MacIntyre for ducks, Kintore 59 – 8, and Rizwan struck yet again by having Goulding caught behind by Muthu while trying a forcing shot, Rizwan’s analysis at that point, 4 for 2 off 4 overs.
Whyte had bowled the maximum 12 overs, with one maiden and taking 3 for 29, a great effort in the heat. Doug Russell took over from Whyte, but had no luck in his spell of 5 – 0 – 15 – 0 as Kintore skipper Thomas and last man L. MacIntyre added 20 runs, frustrating the FP’s fielders with clever running.
Last week’s batting hero John Davey replaced Russell and in his first over broke the last wicket stand when Russell took an easy catch at mid wicket off Thomas who had scored 18 valuable runs, Kintore all out 83.
Rizwan was the leading wicket taker, bowling 7 – 1 – 10 – 4, a great example of controlled, accurate bowling. Muthu kept wicket well, again conceding no byes, and in the outfield only a couple of tricky catches were missed.
Following a good tea, FP’s opener Johnston benefited from the shorter outfield as he dragged his bat back to the pavilion having been bowled for a duck by S. Cowie. Rob Fryer and Muthu then added 30 runs against some good bowling, before Fryer was caught off the bowling of Raja for 10 (2×4). Aussie Danny Marquart went in to bat for the first time for FP’s, and he and Muthu had put on a match winning 38 runs when Marquart was out caught by S. Cowie for 16 (2×4) in an innings of good defence and aggression, a useful experience for Marquart.
Davey went in to bat next, but scored only 3 when he gave S. MacIntyre an easy catch at mid off, FP’s score 76 – 4. Whyte turned his first ball neatly to leg for four, and there was a bit of an anticlimax next over when the game was won by 5 wides.
FP’s final score 85 – 4, Muthu holding the innings together with a well played 21 not out, Whyte not out 4.
Another convincing win by Grammar which takes us up to fourth in Grade 3, but with a very tough away match at third placed Ellon next week, no room for complacency.
Man of the Match – Rizwan who bowled excellently and was alert in the field.
Champagne Moment – On ice this week
