FP’s 2nd XI blitzed by Kennedy

For the away trip to Methlick, FP’s 2^nd XI had to make only three changes to the team which lost to Grade 3 leaders St Ronald the previous week. Replacing Shah, Arun and Rizwan were Ben Frizzell, Ian Goodenough and this week’s debutant Sachin Inamdar.

Methlick had been slipping into the relegation zone and were desperate for points, while FP’s were in third place, just a few points behind the leaders. FP’s lost the toss and were asked to bat on a dry, cracked wicket. A brief shower of rain after the toss delayed the start for a few minutes, but the sunshine returned making a perfect day for cricket at a great setting for cricket.

Methlick opened the bowling with former FP player Steven Murphy who found some swing in the humid conditions. Batsmen Johnston and Fryer were taking no chances against the accurate bowling of Murphy and Buchan, but in the sixth over Buchan got some unexpected lift off a good line and length and Fryer had no time to react and lobbed the ball to cover where a simple catch was taken by Murphy, FP’s score 14 – 1, Fryer out for 5.

New batsman Frizzell was given a difficult time by Murphy, but survived and played some good drives as FP’s score consolidated. Johnston and Frizzell had added 21 runs when Buchan again got some unexpected lift and Johnston could only cut the ball tamely to point where an easy catch was taken, FP’s score 35 – 2 off 12 overs, Johnston out for 11 (1 x 4) Blyth got off the mark first ball, but with the last ball of Buchan’s over Frizzell was bowled for 15 (2 x 4), FP’s score 36 – 3.

Blyth hit eight runs off new bowler Carr’s second over, and Dunecht captain Kennedy came on to replace Buchan. Kennedy’s first ball had the Methlick fielders behind the wicket excited, but his next ball was an accidental beamer which hit new batsman Muthu a painful blow in the chest. With the last ball of the over he bowled a full toss which was hit straight back at Kennedy and Muthu was out caught and bowled without scoring, FP’s 45 – 4 off 16 overs.

Blyth was playing with restraint, but Carr finally tempted the batsman to drive at a wide ball and Kennedy took a well judged catch at cover off a skier, Blyth scoring 13 (1 x 4), FP’s 53 – 5. Karthik and Goodenough steadied the FP’s ship with a stand of 21 before Goodenough was bowled by Kennedy for 4, FP’s score 74 – 6 off 24 overs.

Murphy was brought back on to bowl and took a wicket with his third ball when Karthik was unluckily bowled when he turned a leg side delivery onto his pad and unfortunately onto his stumps. Karthik had been batting well and was realistically FP’s last chance of mounting a decent score, his 17 (3 x 4) ending up FP’s top score, FP’s 74 – 7.

Next ball Murphy pinned new batsman Magesh in front of his stumps for a duck, but Joy managed to avert the hat trick by calmly leaving the next ball well alone. The FP’s collapse continued next over as Houghton was bowled through the gate by Kennedy for a duck, FP’s 74 – 9. Joy and debutant Inamdar added three singles before a mix up between the batsmen resulted in Inamdar being run out by a direct hit without scoring, Joy ending 3 not out. FP’s total 79 all out in 28.2 overs.

This was the second game in a row where FP’s batting collapsed badly against good bowling, this week  in conditions helpful to swing bowling. Kennedy was the most successful bowler with 3 – 12 off 7 overs. Several batsmen got started but could not stay in long enough to make a potential match winning contribution.

Following the tea interval, served with good strong coffee, FP’s went back out knowing from past painful experience that to have any hope of winning the game they had to dismiss Methlick skipper Kennedy quickly. Karthik bowled the first over, an encouraging maiden to I. Kennedy, and new man Joy was given the chance to bowl at dangerman Stewart Kennedy.  The hoped for chance to dismiss Kennedy came in the first over when he drove a ball straight to Johnston at cover who could not quite get both hands under a low drive, and the chance was missed. Joy was again unlucky last ball of the over when Kennedy sliced a drive over slips for a single. Although it was only the second over of the innings, FP’s worse fears were realised next over when Kennedy hit his first four, and, ominously, his first effortless six.

From then on it was a question of how quickly Kennedy could finish the match as he struck sixes almost at will. He had scored 73 out of 77 runs (8 x 6, 4 x 4) and just as it was looking that the only way to stop Kennedy would have to come from the grassy knoll, Magesh bowled him with a beauty and the carnage was over. Murphy put Grammar out of their misery hitting a boundary, leaving opener I. Kennedy 3 not out. Methlick 82 – 1 off 12 overs, Magesh bowling 3-1-7-1.

Grammar lost the match by not scoring nearly enough runs and could only watch in frustration as Kennedy turned the match into a 20/20 style run chase with a great display of clean, powerful hitting.

Man of the Match – Eight sixes, four fours, three wickets, two catches, one ball in the river, no guesses.

Champagne Moment –  Magesh getting him out.