FP’s 2nds lose out in thriller with QXSD

Blue skies and sunshine greeted the AGSFP’s 2nd XI at Rubislaw for the local derby against Queens Cross / Stoneywood Dyce in a near the bottom of Grade 2 clash. The losers would probably be deep in the ongoing relegation battle, so a tight game was expected.

The FP’s team had been selected with a Fair Play Trophy Winners 2011 photo session in mind, so into the team came Rama, Matt Barker. And Ian Goodenough, someone had to make the rest of us look good.

The rest of us being Johnston, Magesh, Pehlaj, Karthik, Norwood, Whyte, Kiran Bhanu and Rahul. Unavailable from last week’s match were Joy, David Blues and Rizwan, who had sustained a broken thumb while batting against St Ronald’s, it was either his thumb or his nose. Even if it had been his nose, he still wouldn’t have replaced Goodenough for the photocall.

FP’s lost the toss and were asked to bat by QXSD skipper Neil Wright. Johnston and Rama opened the batting carefully against the swing bowling of Wright and the pace of Hood.

First to be dismissed for 3 runs was Johnston who was sunk by Hood from a ball which pitched on a length on middle and moved away to clip the outside of the off stump, FP’s 11 – 1 off 7.1 overs.

Next batsman out was Rama who was bowled for 9 by a lovely full length inswinger from Wright, FP’s 14 – 2. Pehlaj and last week’s battling hero Karthik were treating the QXSD bowling with respect and the score progressed slowly.

Karthik was out for a careful 13 (1 x 4), caught in the covers off Bishop. New batsman Barker smashed a powerful boundary through extra cover, but Payne had his revenge two balls later when he took a brilliant reflex catch falling to his left and Barker was out for 10 (2 x 4), FP’s  56 – 4 off 22. 3 overs.

Norwood was soon out comprehensively bowled for no score FP’s 57 – 5. Pehlaj then counter attacked with a great pull for 6 followed next ball by a drive for 4 off Payne, but two balls later took a step down the wicket and gave slip a lovely piece of practice by guiding a shot straight to the fielder. FP’s were now in deep trouble at 68 – 6 off 25 overs.

New batsmen Whyte and Magesh played each ball on its merit and the score began to gather momentum as both batsmen played some good shots into the spaces.

Whyte was playing the aggressive innings, hitting several straight boundaries while Magesh tried to rotate the strike.  But Magesh suddenly played a huge drive over wide mid on almost to the Pavilion for a great 6.

The chirping from the slip area had long stopped as the runs flowed. With the stand approaching 100 the game had turned around and FP’s were in the driving seat. Whyte reached his first 50 for FP’s with a huge 6 and continued his assault on the QXSD bowlers, smashing 34 runs off two overs with some great clean hitting all round the wicket.

Whyte and Magesh had raised a brilliant 114 off 19 overs allowing FP’s to declare on 182 – 6 off 44 overs. A draw would probably leave QXSD above FP’s in the league, a win would lift FP’s above their local rivals.

Wicket takers for QXSD were Bishop 2 – 20, Payne 2 – 37, Wright 1 – 18, Hood 1 – 38. QXSD bowlers bowled well and the fielding was sharp, outstanding behind the stumps was A. Al Mamun.

Following tea and Olympics on the big screen TV, FP’s took the field needing a quick breakthrough and Karthik struck in his first over when he bowled opener Milne with his fourth ball.

Whyte should have had his first wicket when a clear edge was heard by all the close fielders and taken by keeper Pehlaj, but the young batsman did not walk. The previous QXSD match had seen one of their batsman eventually walk following a clear edge, but not this time.

The score progressed steadily at around three an over as FP’s looked to take more wickets. The batsmen were well set against Whyte and Karthik and a change of bowling worked when Rahul replaced Whyte with the last ball of his first over bowled Hood for 32 (5 x 4), QXSD 59 – 2 off 17 overs.

QXSD continued to score at a good rate as FP’s catching was not at its best. The ground fielding was better, with  Norwood taking a couple of painful blows for the team.  It took another bowling change to produce a wicket, this time Kiran Bhanu struck first ball with a superb middle stump yorker which completely bemused Farhad who was out for 17 (1 x 4), QXSD 113 – 4, 29 overs.

Magesh then took a wicket in his second over, Rodger out for 50 (1 x 6, 4 x 4). Rodger had batted well and was out again caught by Pehlaj, QXSD 113 – 4.

The experienced Wright was content to allow Payne to play his shots and 34 valuable runs were added before Magesh tempted Wright in to slicing a cut shot straight to Whyte at gully. Wright out for 8, SDQX 147 – 5 off 36 overs.

New batsman Leask did not last long and was out bowled by Magesh for 1, QXSD 153 – 6. Payne and Bishop added 8 runs, but Karthik held on to a good catch at mid off to dismiss Bishop off Magesh for 6, QXSD 161 – 7.

Payne continued to frustrate FP’s by chipping the ball over the infield, but was out to a magnificent catch by Goodenough at mid off for an aggressive 41 (1 x 6, 2 x 4). The ball was driven high, but Goodenough held on to the catch falling backwards while at full stretch. That was his version of the catch as all his teammates had their hands over their eyes. QXSD score 179 – 8 off 43.4 overs.

Wicketkeeper A. Al Mamun was joined by his brother S. Al Mamun, but there was no telepathic understanding as S. Al Mamun was run out attempting an impossible run, SDQX now 179 – 9 off 43 overs.

Norwood was given the ball to bowl at young QXSD keeper Al Mamun who had been showing good technique and a good temperament. The youngster kept calm and carried on by hitting the winning runs, ending 15 n.o (1 x 4), QXSD winning by 1 wicket in a very tense finale.

Wicket takers for FP’s were Magesh 4 – 38, Kiran Bhanu 1 – 19, Whyte 1 – 37, Rahul 1 – 39, Karthik 1 – 47.

FP’s did not help them their cause by dropping 6 catches, but the young QXSD batsmen played some good shots in going for victory.

Man of the Match – Kieran Whyte, brilliant 70 n.o. one of the few to hold onto a catch and took a wicket

Gold Medal Moment – Whyte’s 6 to reach his 50

Silver Medal Moment – Not quite’s catch

Bronze Medal Moment – Magesh’s huge 6

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