The last Grade 2 match of the season saw AGSFP’s 2nd XI second bottom but knowing that victory would ensure safety form relegation.
The team to play against Academy at the Links was Johnston, Magesh, Rama, Pehlaj, Arul, Karthik, Whyte, Vijay, Rahul, Joy and D’Costa.
Things looked bright for FP’s when the game started, the toss was won, the weather was sunny although the forecast was for some light rain and Vijay took a wicket with his first ball in the second over of the match.
Academy skipper Majeed was batting carefully, but hit any ball off his legs to the boundary. Amit survived some good bowling from Vijay and Whyte, but eventually miscued a drive to point where Karthik took a good catch, Academy 17 – 2, 10.2 overs.
Rahul replaced Vijay who had bowled some great deliveries finishing his spell with 5 – 1 – 6 – 1. Rahul was immediately hit by Majeed for a couple of boundaries, but in his second over bamboozled batsman Sayeed who was out bowled by Rahul’s slower ball, Academy 30 – 3 off 13.2 overs.
Whyte ended his spell with 7 – 1 – 14 – 1 and as on most occasions this season deserved more wickets. Karthik came on to bowl from the Pittodrie End, but new batsman Amol was going for his shots and hit several good boundaries.
But a sudden change of wind direction changed the weather conditions and the rain started. The Academy batsmen sportingly stayed out in the middle, with the FP’s captain avoiding eye contact with the Academy captain. But when a couple of deliveries slipped from the bowlers hand and almost hit Amol who was wearing glasses, it was obvious that the rain was too heavy for the match to continue in safety.
The light rain became heavy rain, then very heavy rain during the early tea and it became obvious that the game would have to be abandoned with Academy 69 – 3 off 21 overs, Majeed 23 n.o.(3 x 4), Amol 30 n.o. (5 x 4). Rahul took 1 – 22 off 3 overs. The outfield was soon awash and the stumps were bravely rescued before they floated away.
This was a disappointing end to the damnp season and FP’s now have to rely on other results to go in their favour to avoid the drop to Grade 3. FP’s have had their chances to win some close matches during the season but were unable to finish off a couple of games when well placed.
