AGSFP’s travelled to Banchory knowing that a victory was a must to keep them above the relegation slots. There were two changes to the team which just failed to beat Caledonian the previous week, out went Joy and Peiris and into the team came Sandeep and debutant schoolboy Lickson Manjumu.
The weather was dry and sunny, the wicket had been covered but due to another week of rain it was damp and the outfield was long in places.
FP’s lost the toss and were invited to bat by Banchory captain Tim Wilkinson. FP’s were hoping to gain as many batting points as possible, and Johnston and Rama opened the batting. Unfortunately FP’s got off to a terrible start when Johnston played a shot which was exactly as it says on the bin. Rubbish. A slow full toss bowled by Crawley was sliced to second slip and FP’s were 0-1 off only the second ball of the innings.
In Crawley’s 2nd over Rama was caught off an outside edge, but FP’s captain Johnston, desperately looking for an excuse for playing such a poorly judged shot, noticed that there were 16 people on the field. One too many!
Banchory had had a player turn up late and upon arrival immediately joined his 11 teammates in the middle, but only at the end of the first over. Rama was dismissed when there were 12 Banchory players on the field and was rightly reinstated to continue his innings. Straw clutching Johnston (the only thing he did clutch onto all match) was also allowed to continue his participation at the wicket, as umpire.
Rama’s reprieve did not last long as he was out bowled by Redpath for 5, FP’s 9 – 2 off 3.5 overs. Pehlaj and Arul batted with care and were building a good stand. The outfield was heavy with the ball reaching the boundary only twice in the first 15 overs, although Pehlaj played a great pull off Crawleyfor 6.
Arul had aggravated a thigh injury and had to call on Rama the Runner. Unfortunately the runner was run out despite a good dive, and FP’s were 45 – 3 off 17 overs, Arul scoring 13 (1 x 4)
Next over things got worse for FP’s as Pehlaj was out caught by a diving Wilkinson at wide mid on, FP’s 45 – 4, Pehlaj scoring 1 x 6 and 1 x 4 in his patient innings of 22.
In form Karthik and in form Whyte looked to be just getting on top of the bowling when Karthik fell into the trap of hitting a ball straight to the fielder placed in the position to catch the ball hit to that position, Karthik scoring 13 (2 x 4), FP’s 75 – 5 off 24.4 overs.
Magesh was next man to be dismissed, run out for a duck while looking for a single to fine leg, FP’s 93 – 6 off 29 overs.
Whyte was batting well, playing with a straight bat to the good balls and hitting the bad balls all round the park. D’Costa got off the mark with a good boundary and looked quite comfortable until he was out caught off his first bad shot, caught off Thakur for 7 (1 x 4), FP’s 109 – 7. Rahul was soon out without scoring, FP’s 109 – 8 off 32 overs. With a potential 14 overs until the end of the FP’s innings, there was plenty of time for debutant Lickson to help Whyte add vital runs and that is just what he did, batting sensibly while Whyte opened his shoulders, hitting 3 great 6’s. They added 32 vital runs before Whyte was out caught off Thakur for 66 (4 x 6, 5 x 4) FP’s 141 – 9 off 41 overs. The last wicket stand did not last long as a mix up in the calling meant that Sandeep was run out without scoring, leaving Lickson not out 3. FP’s scored 142 off 42 overs.
This was Whyte’s second well deserved 50 in three matches and meant that FP’s had a decent total to defend. Some poor shots and a couple of run outs meant that the total was less than had been hoped for. Best bowling for Banchory, Thakur 3 – 30, Redpath 2 – 26, Richards 1 – 34, Crawley 1 – 43.
Following an excellent smoked salmon sandwich tea, FP’s opened the bowling with Whyte and Karthik. Karthik was struggling to find his normally accurate line, but was still unlucky when two catches were spilled at cover and then he was no-balled while bowling Chikanna with a dipping full toss.
The Banchory opening batsmen were scoring at a good rate and it took FP’s partnership breaker Rahul to come on and strike when Chikanna was out LBW in Rahul’s second over. Rahul, who looks like pace bowler Michael Holding, but bowls with the pace of Mrs Holding, deceived Chikanna with a super slo- mo ball, Banchory 47 – 1 off 13.1 over.
Magesh replaced Whyte who had bowled an excellent spell of 7 – 1 – 13 – 0 from the Pavilion end. His third ball was whacked by Hicks for 6, but while attempting to emulate his partner, new batsman Rotherham was brilliantly caught on the mid wicket boundary by Whyte. The ball was heading for a ferocious flat 6 and the pond, when Whyte stuck out his right hand and held on to the ball at shoulder level.
This was the potential match changing moment FP’s had hoped for but new batsman Khan and Hicks were taking full advantage of any bad balls and FP’s were unable to break the 3rd wicket stand until Karthik cunningly misfielded at deep midwicket then recovered to send in a superb throw which left batsman Hicks stranded. Banchory 108 – 3 off 27 overs, Hicks scoring 49 (1 x 6, 3 x 4).
Banchory batsmen Khan and Makeshwan were kept quiet by a good spell by Magesh and D’Costa, but Banchory were closing in on victory when Rahul ran out Makeshwan with a Holding type return to the wicket, Banchory 129 – 4.
Batsman Khan then finished the game with a flurry of boundaries, Banchory winning by 6 wickets in the 33rd over, Khan finishing on 48 not out (1 x 6, 7 x 4) with Redpath on one boundary not out.
FP’s were well beaten in the end, a combination of some dodgy batting, bowling and fielding and now face a must win last match of the season next week against Academy. Not to mention Sunday’s Bon Accord Cup Final against high flying St Ronald 2nd XI who will be as red hot favourite as you can be to secure the league and cup double against the now badly struggling FP’s.
Man of the Match – Kieran Whyte, superb 66, great catch and unlucky spell of bowling
Champagne moment – Whyte’s catch on the boundary
