AGSFP’s 2nd XI were treated to a trip to the seaside for the away match against Caledonian in a Grade 2 match where defeat would see them in deep trouble. With the weather bright and dry this would mean that, for the first time this season, FP’s would complete a match on grass.
The team selected to play on this historic occasion was Johnston, Magesh, Rama, Pehlaj, Arul, Karthik, Joy, Whyte, Magesh, Peiris, D’Costa, Rahul. Missing from the defeat against QXSD were Goodenough, Barker,Norwood, Kiran Bhanu, replaced by Arul, Joy, debutant Irosh Peiris and schoolboy Jesten D’Costa.
Caley’s stand in captain Liam Bowie won the toss and asked FP’s to bat first. Regular captain Grant Cordiner was injured with a broken rib meaning that an under strength Caley had to twist his arm play to persuade him to play, not too far by the noise he made.
FP’s openers Johnston and Rama were finding drives difficult to time on the slow low wicket, until Rama on drove bowler Bugg for the first 6 of the match. The scoring rate was good with the very fast outfield, shortish boundary and a couple of misfields. The 50 was brought up in style with Rama hitting another 6. The opening stand had reached a season’s best of 60 when Johnston was out LBW to Safee for 17 (2 x 4).
Rama was looking set for a big score when he was out mistiming a drive which was very well caught in the covers, the fielder not being distracted by the wicketkeeper who had run quickly to cover in an attempt to get under the catch. Rama scored an attractive 44 (2 x 6, 5 x 4), FP’s 72 – 2, 14 overs.
Arul got off the mark as a result of being dropped and soon rubbed seasalt into the wound by hitting wicketkeeper / bowler Bowie for 3 consecutive boundaries, all over cover. Both Pehlaj and Arul punished the bad ball, Pehlaj pulling Sudheer for two 6’s and Arul also scoring a couple of sixes as the score raced on to 133 off 22 overs.
As often happens a new bowler brought a wicket and Pehlaj was out caught and bowled by Sharad and a disappointed Pehlaj trudged off having scored 37 (2 x 6, 3 x 4), FP’s 136 – 3.
In form Karthik was next batsman to the middle and soon had the scorebook rustling along, taking full advantage of the part time bowlers who were required to bowl. The Caley bowlers had been led a merry dance when Arul suddenly pulled up with an injured hamstring, but after a quick stretch decided to continue batting. The very next ball he skied a drive and was out caught at point for an aggressive 59 (2 x 6, 8 x 4), FP’s 182 – 4 off 29 overs.
Joy came and went, out for 8 (1 x 4) and last weeks century stand heroes Whyte and Magesh were brought down to earth when both were dismissed while adding only one run between them. Whyte was the victim of a brilliant piece of fielding when midwicket picked up and threw down the stumps with Whyte well short of the crease, run out for 1 run. Magesh was out caught off Safee for a duck, FP’s 229 – 7 off 36 overs.
The scoring rate had slowed down with the sudden fall of wickets, FP’s adding only 7 runs in 6 overs as the Caley bowlers fought back.
But Karthik was soon back in the groove, hitting out as FP’s looked for a declaration. His last five scoring shots raising 22 runs before he was eventually dismissed for 68 ( 4 x 6, 7 x 4), with the batsman walking after edging a ball down the legside, the keeper taking a good catch, the upwind umpire unaware the batsman had glanced the ball.
Debutant Peiris ended on 8 n.o. (1 x 5, (4 overthrows)) and D’Costa 1 n.o. as FP’s declared on 266 – 8 off 42 overs.
Wicket takers for Caley were Safee who bowled 12 – 1 – 36 – 4, Sharad 10 – 4 – 37 – 2, C. Bugg 1 – 70. In all the FP’s lazy batsmen had hit 10 x 6 and 27 x 4 as finally, shots reached the boundary.
FP’s opened the bowling with Whyte grabbing the wind assisted end and Karthik making a mental note. Bowling into the wind obviously suited Karthik as he claimed a wicket in his first over, batsman Safee edging to second slip where Rama made a tricky low catch look easy, Caley 0-1. Things got better for FP’s when Whyte bowled Pradeep for 9 (1 x 4) in his third over. In Whyte’s next over he had Sharath plumb LBW for a duck, then struck again two balls later when golfer turned best dressed cricketer Paul, who had obviously been hijacked from the golf course to play the match, was out LBW trying to putt instead of trying to drive, Caley 20 – 4.
Karthik then bowled Bowie with a beautiful inswinger, Caley now struggling badly on 25 – 5 off 11 overs.
But the victory which had seemed a formality was held up by Uday and Bugg who added 50 runs in 13 overs. Rahul had replaced Karthik from the oh so quiet Pittodrie end and soon tempted Uday to try and hit the cover off the ball, the result being a wicket for Rahul and a much needed breakthrough. Uday scored an attractive 41 (6 x 4)
With no chance of a victory, Caley defended well until D’Costa, replacing Rahul, found his length and bowled Rajeev with a great delivery and with his next ball had Sudheer expertly caught at slip by Arul for a duck, Caley 97 – 8 off 36 overs.
FP’s had 12 overs to take the last 2 wickets and Magesh then got in on the act having Shiva very coolly caught at cover by Rahul who calmly pulled up both sleeves of his jersey while waiting for the ball to drop.
Injured batsman Cordiner arrived at the wicket with 10 overs to survive. And survive he did, but not without offering several half chances to the FP’s fielders who by now swarmed around Bugg and Cordiner. FP’s tried their best to finish off Caley, but Bugg especially, played very well scoring 34 n.o. (4 x 4), Cordiner ending 6 n.o. (1 x 4), Caley 127 – 9.
FP’s bowling, Whyte 12 – 5 – 19 – 3, Karthik 12 – 3 – 32 – 2, Rahul 5 – 0 – 26 – 1, Magesh 12 – 2 – 18 – 1, D’Costa 5 – 1 – 21 – 2, Peiris 2 – 1 – 3 – 0.
Fielding wise, Karthik, Rama and D’Costa were outstanding. This exciting match was played in good spirit throughout.
Although unable to complete the victory, FP’s gained 26 points from the draw and as a result lost little ground to their rivals.
Man of the Match – Karthik scored 68 runs, took 2 – 32 and fielded brilliantly
Champagne Moment – Jesten D’Costa’s double wicket maiden to bring FP’s back into the game
