For the first time in a month AGSFP’s 2nd XI could look forward to completing a game of cricket following yet another saturated Saturday. The Sunday clouds were omnipresent, but the forecast was good as the captains made their way to the middle across a surprisingly dry but lush outfield. Queens Cross/Stoneywood Dyce captain Robin Taylor tossed correctly and eventually invited FP’s to bat first in this rearranged Bon Accord Cup semi final. The previous meeting had been abandoned, apparently due to a spot of rain.
There were several changes to the team whinging in the rain the previous week. The game had been abandoned with FP’s batting and out to dry off went the not out batsmen Arul and John Davey and off to dry out went Blyth, Norwood and James Lord. They were replaced by Johnston, McLeod , Magesh and just back from a month in the sun without any practice, came Pehlaj and Karthik. Last weeks deluge survivors making up the eleven were Rama, Vijay, Morrison, Goodenough and Knudson.
Rama and Vijay opened the batting for FP’s, but found QXSD bowlers Rory Taylor and Moir hard to score off. After 5 overs of watchful batting, the score had progressed to 11 – 0, but in the 6th over, Vijay was out caught off Moir for 2, FP’s 12 – 1. New batsman Pehlaj batted with care, but Rama was quick to drive anything full, only for the ball to stop dead in the outfield.
With the score on 31 Rama decided to advance down the wicket to Taylor and was bowled for 18 (7 x 2), FP’s 31 – 2. Karthik joined fellow holiday maker Pehlaj just as Taylor was replaced by H. Ritchie. Taylor had bowled well 7 – 3 – 14 – 1, his skipper obviously saving him for his batting, if required. Moir, whose batting would be required, was also replaced after bowling a tight spell of 8 – 0 – 17 – 1.
The score had reached 44 – 2 off 18 of the allowed 40 overs without a boundary being scored, when Pehlaj went on the counter attack, playing three great pull shots for 4,4,6 and FP’s were suddenly in the ascendency. Three overs later Karthik also smashed a huge 6, over cover, with 18 coming from the 23rd over, the scoring rate was up at a healthy 4 an over.
The QX/SD bowling reverted to bowling a good line and length again, restricting the now attack minded FP’s batsmen to around 4 an over. Pehlaj was out in the 31st over trying to hit over the top, scoring an excellent 43 (1 x 6, 3 x 4). The 3rd wicket stand with Karthik had been worth 97 runs in 17 overs.
New bowlers Kidd and Farhad were giving nothing away and Karthik was out just after reaching a well deserved half century while hitting out at Farhad, Karthik scoring 51 (2 x 6, 2 x 4). Unfortunately the fielder Ahmed damaged a finger while taking the catch and was taken to hospital by the QX/SD team doctor. With only 5 overs to be bowled before tea, the FP’s batsmen had obviously seen the spread being prepared and were determined to get stuck in, not, unfortunately, into the bowling. The last 7 wickets fell for 13 runs with a succession of tennis style shots which would have had Andy Murray weeping. Probably with laughter. McLeod finished 1 n.o. as FP’s ended on 150 all out.
For QX/SD, youngster Farhad gave an object lesson in bowling straight, taking 6 – 27 off 8 overs.
The batting collapse was soon forgotten as FP’s gorged themselves on an array of home made cakes, meringues and fresh strawberries and yet more cakes. There really is no place in the game for such obvious underhand tactics and one day, one day some idiot will complain and have it banned.
FP’s waddled out to field and Vijay was given the cherry off the cake to bowl with from the tea end. The QX/SD openers also started carefully, but Moir soon calmed any home team nerves by hitting two big sixes. Soon after however, Moir fell and landed awkwardly as he completed a single and had to be helped back to the pavilion having scored 29 n.o. (2 x 6, 1 x 4)
The first authentic dismissal came after Knudson had replaced Vijay. McPherson had batted carefully, but went for a powerful pull off Knudson’s first ball and was brilliantly caught by Karthik at mid wicket for 8, QX/SD 38 – 1. Karthik’s reflex right handed catch was a stunner and suddenly FP’s were back in the match. Chieckley brought FP’s back down to earth with an effortless shot for 6 over mid wicket off Knudson, but in Knudson’s next over came charging down the wicket and was smartly stumped by Pehlaj for 8, QX/SD 49 – 2 off 15 overs.
Farhad and Ritchie batted well, just about keeping up with the scoring rate required, but tight bowling from Knudson and Magesh saw them fall behind again. The 30th over had QX/SD on 93 – 2 and Magesh then had Farhad out well caught by keeper Pehlaj for 14. Two balls later the pressure told again when Ritchie was run out for a well played 21 (2 x 4), a bad piece of running and a good piece of fielding by Rama left Ritchie stranded, QX/SD 96 – 5. This left QX/SD requiring 54 off 10 overs with Rory Taylor the new batsman.
A fully rested and refreshed Taylor was soon hitting out and smacked both Magesh and Knudson for 6. The ball was being hit all over Harlaw, but the calm FP’s fielding resulted in another run out when Noor and Taylor were at one end while a return throw from Karthik was at the other end, QX/SD 128 – 5.
Taylor was unable to find a much needed boundary off Vijay’s accurate bowling and with Magesh also bowling a tight over, this left QX/SD needing 20 off the last two overs. Vijay went for five in his last over, meaning if Magesh had 15 runs scored off his last over, QX/SD would go through having lost fewer wickets. Despite Taylor’s heroic efforts, 7 runs were required off Magesh’s last ball and in a last act of defiance, Taylor smashed the ball to the boundary for 4, leaving FP’s the winners by 3 runs.
Taylor ended with 40 n.o. (2 x 6, 2 x 4) and was unlucky to be on the losing side. QX/SD were also unlucky losing Moir when they did, but FP’s held their nerve to just hold on for victory. The win might have been more convincing had a few of the chances been held.
For FP’s, Knudsen was top wicket taker 10 – 2 – 30 – 2, Magesh bowled 10 – 1 – 45 – 1, Karthik 10 – 3 – 45 – 0 and Vijay came back at the end to effectively end QX/SD’s hopes of victory, bowling an excellent 10 – 3 – 20 – 0 in all.
Man of the Match – Karthik, top scorer with 51, took brilliant catch and involved in run out.
Champagne Moment – Karthik’s one handed catch
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