It was back to Grade 3 duty for FP’s 2nd XI and for the trip to play Stonehaven 2nd XI, there were seven changes to the team which had lost to a Gordonians 2nd XI in the Reid Cup semi-final. Out went the Knudsons, Geoff Morrison, John Lord, Hozefa, Karthik, Rubesh and Andy Milne. Returning to the side were Rob Fryer, John Youles, Ben Frizzell, Muthu, Kieran Whyte, Danny Marquart and Rizwan. Eight players dropping out and seven returning meant we were one player short. It looked like FP’s would be three players and a team kit short until the last car eventually showed up, just as the 19 sunbathing players were about to be served with a ‘rogue traveller’ eviction order by the Stonehaven council.
Some time before the kit arrived, FP’s had won the toss and unusually decided to bat first on a greenish but firm, flat wicket.When the match eventually started, FP’s openers Fryer and Youles got off to a great start putting on 38 runs in only 7 overs, taking advantage of the bad balls and getting full value for their shots over a fast outfield. The aggressive Youles was the first batsman to be dismissed when he tried to turn a straight ball to leg and was bowled by D. Long for 20 runs (2 x 4)
Ben Frizzell and Fryer continued looking for runs, Fryer now finding the gaps but the good fielding and throwing by the Stonehaven team meant caution was required while running between the wickets. The game was held up when the Stonehaven wicketkeeper took a blow above the eye when gathering a legside ball and was forced to retire hurt and taken to hospital for stitches.
Fryer played a cracking straight drive off A. Long which would have probably meant a trip to hospital for the umpire had he not dived out of the way as the ball blurred to the boundary. Frizzell had just hit a lovely cover drive for four when he was bowled by A. Gardner for 17 runs (2 x 4), FP’s score 76 – 2, with the second wicket partnership, like the first wicket, being worth 38 runs.
New batsman Muthu was immediately off the mark with a ‘Muthu’ single, but two balls later Fryer was out bowled by Gardner, unluckily playing on.
Ian Goodenough joined Muthu but the scoring had become difficult with A. Long especially bowling with good pace and accuracy. The third wicket had added 19, all in singles, when Goodenough gave A. Long his first wicket with a caught and bowled for 4 runs, FP’s score 96 – 4 in 25.4 overs.
Kieran Whyte came in and immediately hit two powerful straight drives for four in consecutive balls, but soon after was caught going for another boundary off A. Long.
Next man in Marquart also looked in aggressive mood, but was soon out for only 2 when he was bowled by Gardner, FP’s now 118 – 6. Things got worse for Grammar in an accidentally extended over when Magesh was caught and bowled for a duck, FP’s 121 – 7. Grammar had lost four wickets for 24 runs and had let Stonehaven back into the game.
Rizwan went in to bat for only the second time this season with his previous innings being 1 not out, the winning run against Stonehaven at Rubislaw. He timed the ball beautifully from the start, the wristy shots to the leg side boundary resembling former Indian Test batsman Azaruhdin. The score mounted steadily as Stonehaven brought back the opening bowlers, but Muthu and AzaRizwan were now on top, scoring runs almost at will.
Stonehaven were looking very frustrated in the field as the partnership grew rapidly, with Muthu playing the ball of the back foot through the covers for a couple of fours, and Rizwan straight driving to the boundary.
The partnership added 63 runs in 10 overs, with only 8 singles in a Muthu partnership (!), when Rizwan was bowled by Long for 33 (5 x 4), FP’s score 184 – 8. Last man Johnston went in hoping to help raise the score to over 200, and with Muthu back in quick single mode it looked possible. On one occasion Johnston had just blocked a ball which then lay at his feet, was about to pick it up to return to the bowler when her heard the familiar “Yes, one run” from Muthu. Another unlikely single to frustrate the fielding team.
Unfortunately a quick single was responsible for the last wicket falling when a mix up between the batsmen led to Muthu being run out for 33 (3 x 4), FP’s final score 197 – 9 off 41.3 overs.
The final total was more than had looked likely at one stage thanks mainly to the great stand between Muthu and Rizwan, but helped also by six players players getting into double figures. It was also useful for all the team members to get a chance to bat as several of our victories this season have been while batting second and losing few wickets while winning.
The World Cup entertainment during the tea interval this week was not as good compared to last week match, but good enough four-one of our players…
Following a good tea, cake eating Whyte did well to open with a maiden, but Magesh was struck for two fours in his opening over by N. King. Stonehaven had 48 overs to score the 198 runs at around four an over, but it looked like King was in the mood to have a go from the start.
The Stonehaven batsman then played a powerful straight drive off Magesh which crashed into non striker J. Gibson, resulting in a nasty crack just above the elbow, but Gibson bravely carried on after treatment.
Normal service was resumed by Magesh’s in his second over when he bowled the aggresive King for 9, Stonehaven 12 – 1. Next batsman D. Long Jnr also looked keen to finish the game quickly, playing three good attacking shots in his first few balls faced. Magesh, having just been hit for a boundary, cleverly tossed the ball up into the strong wind enticing Long to play his shot a fraction too soon, and Marquart took a comfortable catch at cover, Stonehaven 22 – 2 off 5 overs. Whyte was bowling with good pace and accuracy and was finally rewarded when he caught and bowled A. Long for 7, Stonehaven 39 – 3.
Whyte (8 – 4 – 13 – 1) had seen the batsmen playing and missing on numerous occasions, was given a rest and replaced by Rizwan. The first over bowled by Rizwan was an experimental over of leg breaks which went for more runs in total than his subsequent 6 overs of seam bowling. Rizwan claimed his first wicket in his third over bowling Campbell with a beautiful in swinger, Stonehaven 67 – 4.
John Youles came on to bowl for Magesh who had bowled well 9 – 2 – 35 – 2. Youles took his first wicket in his third over, Hay being bowled for 5, Stonehaven 80 – 5 off 24 overs.
Rizwan soon accounted for D. Long Snr who scored 2, score 85 – 6, but at the other end opener Gibson was batting resolutely, overcoming elbow and leg injuries with typical Yorkshire grit. A runner was eventually called for Gibson, but the batsman was not slow to hit the bad ball for four. S. Young was also finding the boundary and quickly scored 21 runs before a recalled Whyte beat him with pace and inswing, bowling Young for 21, Stonehaven 113 – 7.
Grammar had only four bowlers to choose from, and in Whyte’s last over Gardiner tried a cut shot which was caught by Johnston at point, Stonehaven 126 – 8. Whyte had bowled 12 – 5 – 23 – 3, two good spells of bowling, resulting in no need to persuade our best ‘non-bowler’ Fryer to have a bowl.
The injured Stonehaven wicketkeeper was unable to bat, meaning last man to bat was actually schoolboy O. Plummer. Gibson attempted to farm the strike, but when called upon, Plummer played with a good technique, getting off the mark with a nice drive to mid on. Gibson then hit a lofted drive over mid on to reach his 50 off the last ball of Magesh’s allotted overs, 12 – 2 – 52 – 2.
Rizwan (9.4 – 3 – 21 – 3) returned and finished off the match when Gibson mistimed a drive towards the onside and Whyte pounced to take the catch at mid wicket, leaving Plummer not out on 1, Stonehaven 138 – 9 in 40.4 overs.
Grammar deservedly won the match by 59 runs, with the game turning on Muthu and Rizwan’s great stand. Both teams ended with 10 men, both teams fielded well,with Frizzell outstanding for Grammar, and both teams bowled well, but Grammar batted better and longer down the order.
Man of the Match – AzaRizwan, scored a vital 33 runs with his first real innings of the season, top wicket taker with 3 – 21 and fielded sharply.
Champagne Moment – Magesh bowling a cleverly flighted slower ball to the batsman looking to attack, leading to the catch at cover.
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