With only 3 games remaining in the season, Grammar FP’s 2nd XI badly needed to beat Academy to have any chance of gaining promotion to Grade 2. The FP’s team chosen from an unexpectedly large squad of 17 showed four changes to the team beaten by Methlick, with John Davey and Tom Booth returning from an electrifying holiday, Rizwan returning from injury and Kieran Whyte returning from first eleven duty. On paper this was about the strongest team the 2nds could field, and it would be a good test against the team in second place in Grade 3.
The wicket was damp and the outfield still wet from the previous day’s rain, and FP’s lost the toss and were asked to bat. Johnston and Fryer had to face good pace bowling on the lively wicket from S. Kumar and accurate bowling from A. Majeed. FP’s were finding runs hard to come by. It took until the fifth over before FP’s scored their first run, but in the last ball of the same over, Fryer fatally went back to a straight ball from Kumar which kept low, and was bowled.
In Kumar’s next over Muthu was also bowled for 1, FP’s score 2 – 2. New batsman Booth and Johnston attempted to recover the situation and had added 13 runs in 5 overs when Booth called skipper Johnston for a quick single. The old grades saying ‘Never judge a fielder by his track suit bottoms’ came to mind just as Johnston reached the crease shortly after the bails had been removed, thanks to a great stop and accurate throw by said fielder. Johnston run out for 8, FP’s score 15 – 3 off 12 overs. Booth’s chances of getting a bowl later were looking very slim at this stage.
This was a poor start by Grammar and it would take some recovery to make a game of it. But ex-bowler Booth and new batsman Davey set about the recovery by playing patiently, waiting for the bad ball and by some good running between the wickets, added 22 runs against testing bowling.
However just as he was looking to get after the bowling, Booth was out for 13, bowled by Bedi while attempting to sweep a full, straight delivery. FP’s 37 – 4 off 20 overs.
Ben Frizzell and Davey continued the recovery by adding 40 runs in only 10 overs both batsmen driving the ball well into gaps mainly through the offside, also aided by good running. But Frizzell was bowled by Majeed in the first over of his second spell while attempting a leaden footed drive, Frizzell scoring 9 runs while Davey faced/pinched the bulk of the bowling, FP’s 77 – 5 in 30 overs.
Nick Blyth got off the mark first ball with a well timed turn to the legside, fortunately the square leg fielder was a bit slow to react to the catch which Blyth had just sent his way.
Davey was driving and cutting the ball powerfully at every opportunity, once again not getting full value for shots through the damp, thick outfield. He had looked set for another major score when he was out driving a fraction early at Majeed, giving the bowler a simple caught and bowled, Davey scoring 45 ( 2 x 4), FP’s 94 – 6 off 33.2 overs.
Soon after Karthik was also bowled by Majeed after scoring 5 runs, FP’s 110 – 7, but by now FP’s were putting together a reasonable score considering the opening 10 overs.
Blyth was playing his best innings of the season, scoring quickly, hitting 4 x 4’s in the process, but he made a bloomer bigger than the Bridgett Jones’s he wears to bat in, when he was out caught off Majeed for 29 (4 x 4), FP’s total 135 – 8.
Rizwan had also got off the mark first ball, a fine turn off leg stump, but was run out going for another quick single which this time was not really there and was out for 7, FP’s score 137 – 9. The score was given a needed boost by a great 10th wicket partnership with Kieran Whyte and Magesh adding 31 runs in only 4 overs. Whyte got off the mark hitting a slower ball from opening bowler Kumar for 6, and managed another huge 6, this time off Bedi, over midwicket. Magesh and Whyte also showed good running between the wickets frustrating the Academy fielders on several occasions.
Grammar reached a total of 168 – 9 off 46 overs, Whyte 22 n.o Magesh 6 n.o. mainly thanks to a great recovery by the mid-lower order batsmen against second in the league Academy. It was also good to hear the batsmen receiving loud encouragement from their watching team mates.
The first proper sit down tea of the season in the pavilion followed, beautifully served up by the FP’s 2nd XI C.C. (Catering Company – now available for private functions).
But before the Academy innings commenced, an important team huddle was called, where, amongst other things, the player who had not paid his match fee was named and shamed. His identity will remain in the huddle, but this ‘outing’ is now know as being Frizzled.
Grammar opened the bowling with Magesh from the Cromwell Road end, and Whyte from the Pavillon End. Academy batsman S. Bedi was in aggressive mood and wasted no time in going for his shots, and after only 5 overs Academy were 36 – 0. However a change of bowler brought a change of luck when Karthik cleverly bowled a full length leg stump delivery at a charging Bedi, out for 36 (2 x 6, 2 x 4).
Whyte had bowled 8 accurate overs for only 17 runs, and was replaced by Rizwan who took a wicket in his opening over when he bowled opener Majeed with a great inswinging delivery, Academy 59 – 2. Unfortunately Rizwan aggravated a shoulder injury and was unable to bowl after only three overs.
The run rate had dropped dramatically and the pressure paid when mid wicket Davey smartly picked up and returned the ball to keeper Muthu. Fortunately Muthu just managed to leap up and catch at full stretch the previously well practiced return from Davey and Kanish was run out for 5, Academy 62 – 3, off 20 overs.
New batsman Jagpall immediately started a counter attack and hit 2 x 6 in one over. Following his persistent hinting by bowling the ball at his skipper during the entire 23 overs FP’s had fielded, Davey was finally given a bowl, and he struck in his third over by bowling Richard for 10, Academy 96 – 4.
Next over Magesh, returning for his second spell, bowled dangerman Jagpal for 16, and FP’s were now favourites to win the match.
Academy had added only 3 more runs when Naeem, having survived two very confident caught behind appeals, was brilliantly caught one handed down the leg side by the ever alert Muthu off bat and pad for 1, Academy now 99 – 6 in the 35th over.
Academy keeper hit the next two balls for 4 and 2, but then pulled the next ball straight to Karthik on the mid wicket boundary who judged the catch perfectly, and Academy were 105 – 7 off 35 overs, leaving then 62 runs to score off 9 overs.
Next over Whyte returned and had Senthil plumb LBW for a duck, Academy 107 – 8, and FP’s thought they had struck again soon after when Whyte took a catch at point, but unfortunately off a no ball by Magesh. Soon after Karthik made a great effort to hang on to a catch at mid wicket as FP’s pushed for the win. Academy skipper Derrett batted well taking singles off the last balls of the over on several occasions to frustrate FP’s attempt to bowl at the tail end. Whyte was bowling without luck as both batsmen played and missed regularly. The eighth wicket pair of Derrett and Chaitu survived nine overs as Academy hung on for a draw and in the process probably ensured promotion to Grade 2, final score 118 – 8 off 44 overs.
All the FP’s bowlers took wickets, and all bowled well. Whyte and Karthik had to work hard to get lift from the dried out wicket, but both managed to hurry the batsmen up at times. Rizwan took his customary early wicket before injury ended his spell. Magesh came back well after some early punishment and now has 27 wickets this season. Davey looked promising and would be interesting to face on a grass wicket. Magesh 12 – 3 – 42 – 3, Whyte 12 – 3 – 20 – 1, Karthik 10 – 1 – 23 – 1, Rizwan 3 – 1 – 15 – 1, Davey 7 – 2 – 13 – 1.
This was the first draw of the season for FP’s and an excellent comeback considering after 12 overs the score was 16 – 3, and in the end Grammar were unlucky not to force the win which would have brought them back into the promotion race.
Man of the Match – John Davey, top scorer, involved in run out, took a wicket, and helped the excellent Muthu showcase his keeping skills to the full.
Champagne Moment – Muthu’s great one handed catch.
