AGSFP’s 2nd XI were back to fielding a full team for the visit to Kings to play St Ronald 2nd XI in a match where the hosts were chasing promotion to Grade 1 and the visitors were fighting to avoid relegation back down to Grade 3.
There were five changes to the team which had defied Gordonians the previous week, replacing McLeod, Rama, Sandeep, James Lord and the invisible man were David Blues, Kieran Whyte, Paul Norwood, Rizwan, and Kiran Bhanu.
FP’s won the toss and invited St Ronald to bat first. The ground looked in great condition, the artificial wicker was free from seagull mess, the grass was short, the outfield flat and wait for it, the sun was shining.
The sun blazed down until just after the first ball was smacked to the point boundary by Sunny. The clouds then rolled over and the rain began and grew steadily worse as openers Imran and Sunny kept out a good opening spell from Whyte and Karthik. Whyte finally got some reward when he bowled Sunny for 14 (2 x 4), St Ronald score 31 – 1 off 9 overs. Karthik was unlucky when opener Imran was dropped at mid wicket early on.
As the rain got heavier, the run rate accelerated and after 25 overs the score was 139 – 1. The players were eventually forced off the field as the rain became torrential.
Upon resumption, batsmen Imran and Adnan resumed the brisk scoring , both batsmen hitting good shots all round the wicket. Imran eventually reached an excellent, aggressive 100 and promptly retired hurt having aggravated an old back injury, retiring on 101 (1 x 6, 11 x 4). Iklal and Adnan continued to hit out until another heavy shower forced the teams off.
Tea was taken and it looked like the game would be abandoned when the rain suddenly stopped and FP’s had to resume their efforts.
St Ronald desperately tried to score as quickly as possible to declare as early as possible to leave time enough to bowl FP’s out before the next potentially final downpour. Magesh had Adnan out LBW for 52 (7 x 4), St Ronald 149 – 2 off 26 overs.
FP’s later picked up some useful wickets after one of the FP’s players had to leave for an appointment with his bank manager! This tactical master stroke saw Whyte bowl Mauzam for 14 (2 x 4) and Magesh take 2 wickets in an over by having Iklal well caught by Karthik for 30 (2 x 4), then bowling Asif for 1 run. St Ronald then declared on 224 – 5 off 36 overs.
Wicket takers for FP’s were Magesh 3 – 42 and Whyte 2 – 62. The bowlers deserve much credit for conceding only 5 extras despite having to bowl with a wet ball for 35.4 overs. FP’s fielding was keen throughout the dreadful weather, staying on the field during all but the worst of the rain showers without complaint.
FP’s now faced a mammoth task ahead of them, having to score 225 against one of the best attacks in the Grade, or having to bat for 54 overs to earn a draw.
Pehlaj and Johnston went out to bat in dry, almost sunny overhead conditions. A good opening stand was vital to have any chance of chasing the St Ronald total, but Plan A quickly became Plan B when FP’s top batsman Pehlaj was bowled in Asif’s first over without scoring, FP’s 0-1.
Rizwan and Johnston added 29 against some hostile bowling, Rizwan taking a nasty blow to the thumb fending off a bouncer, before being given out LBW to Asif for 14 (2 x 4). Incoming batsman Karthik was determined not to be tied down and played his natural game hitting early boundaries off Asif.
The scoring rate was slow and the chances of reaching the big target were receding fast. After 25 overs the score had reached 63 – 2 when the now persistent rain became too heavy to continue.
After half an hour or so, the rain relented and play continued in much the same manner on a wet but rapidly drying wicket . However, as yet another heavy, black cloud slowly passed over, St Ronald were advised that the batsmen would be offered the light if they persisted in short pitched bowling.
New bowlers Sunny and Abid came on to bowl, but by now Johnston was in full Boycott defensive mode and it was Karthik who did most of the scoring, hitting some great pressure relieving shots .
The St Ronald wicketkeeper almost fainted when Johnston opened his shoulders and cover drove a ball for 2. The ball was changed around this time as the original ball had become swollen due to the wet outfield.
Opening bowler Ahmed returned when the light improved and in his second over of the spell had Johnston out caught behind off the glove for 14, FP’s 99 – 3 off 35.4 overs.
Next man in Whyte was out first ball caught by one of the many slips and next over schoolboy Blues was bowled also without scoring, FP’s now threatening to collapse completely, FP’s 100 – 5 off 37 overs.
However experienced batsman Norwood calmly battled through the next 10 overs with Karthik to take the sting out of the attack. St Ronald’s were keen to change the ball again, but after some discussion, their request was turned down.
Norwood had played some nice glances off his pads and having added 18 runs with Karthik while using up important overs, was given out caught behind for 8, FP’s 118 – 6.
There was still ample overs for the St Ronald bowlers to take the last few wickets, but Joy calmly helped Karthik to see out the last 8 overs, bandaged finger Joy ending 4 not out. The last over was safely negotiated just before 9pm in glorious sunshine and FP’s had survived a severe test of character in a good hard cricket match.
But the hero of the day was undoubtedly Karthik who batted for a marathon 44 overs scoring 64 not out (5 x 4). Having already bowled 12 overs, this was Karthik’s best innings for FP’s, showing great concentration and determination while resisting all that the strong St Ronald’s line up could bowl at him.
By completing the match FP’s had lost ground to their relegation rivals, but in this rainiest season for years, it was better to have lost some points than not to have played at all.
Man of the Match – Karthik, epic 64 not out, bowled without luck, held on to a tricky catch
Champagne Moment – Karthik’s well deserved 50
