The first game for the new AGSFP’s 3rd XI against Academy was at home, albeit home being the Links. Unfortunately due to a very late withdrawal, FP’s had only 10 players available. The team consisted of Johnston (capt), Siddarth Shetty, Guru Thangamani, Vishal Desai, Tim Gillies, Arunkumar Chithambaram, Shriram Balasubramani, Jim Lee, Saravana Kumar Rathinam and Diago Maradona (with a name like that, already a club legend)
Academy won the toss and invited FP’s to bat first. As there were 6 modest debutants, straws were drawn to decide who opened the batting. Johnston and Siddarth eventually joined the Academy team in the middle, the wicket looking damp but flat. Not as damp as the last game of last season when monsoon conditions ended the season early with Academy fielders wading out to rescue the stumps. This season FP’s had brought new-look black stumps and white bails, some might say a negative approach.
Unfortunately the wicket was very close to the Broad Hill boundary and very far from the Beach boundary. Perhaps when the outside wickets are being used another boundary could be marked in a different colour from the standard boundary line to make the fast outfield less lopsided.
The first run of the 2013 season for the 3rd XI was a wide and the first run off the bat was a lovely square drive for 3 by Siddarth (Sid). Opening bowler Prakash struck first when Johnston was out LBW for 2, FP’s 18 – 1 off 4.2 overs. New batsman Diago batted very calmly and supported the more aggressive Sid as the score progressed without any problems. The weather was cold, but not cold enough for one of the fielders to be excused wearing gloves!
Sid was looking set for a major score playing great shots all round the wicket, when he missed a straight full toss and was out LBW to new bowler Shafir for 39 (1 x 6, 3 x 4), FP’s 64 – 2 off 17 overs.
Guru’s first scoring shot for the 2nd week running was a 6, and he continued to go for his shots, especially when the short boundary was on his legside. Guru had just hit off spinner Charles for 6,4,6,6 when he was given out LBW next over for a quick-fire 43, the umpire standing upwind not hearing a faint inside edge or maybe it was drowned out by the good appealing of the enthusiastic fielders. FP’s 134 – 3 off 29 overs.
What followed was a bit of a collapse when Vishal, Gillies, Arun and Sriram all offered simple catches to the Academy team, and all sadly failed to score, FP’s slumping to 152 – 7. New batsman Lee got off the mark, but was bowled by Prakash for 2, FP’s 156 – 8.
Fortunately, Diago was keeping Academy’s best bowler Shafir at bay, but it was Prakash who grabbed the glory taking the 5 quick wickets. Diago upped the scoring with a series of boundaries and not to be outdone Sara joined in the fun hitting four scoring shots 4,4,6,4 ending 18 not out when Diago, having just reached a well-deserved and well-paced half century, was out for 51. The last wicket had put on an entertaining 30 runs in 3.2 overs, FP’s ending on 190 all out in 39.2 overs.
The final score was helped by the short boundary, but Sid, Diago, and Guru batted with good judgement and aggression.
For Academy, Prakash took the honours with 6 – 38 off 12 overs and Shafir bowled with good pace and control taking 2 – 13 off 6.2 overs, getting the ball to lift sharply but slowly off the wicket.
With a good score to chase, Wilson hit his first ball for four, then went down with cramp! Academy lost a wicket in the 3rd over when Vishal had the wilting Wilson easily caught by Sara for 9 (2 x 4). Vishal continued to bowl an excellent line and length and took a deserved 2nd wicket in his 6th over when Sara held on to a more tricky catch at mid-on, Prakash the batsman out for 10 (1 x 4), Academy 38 – 2 off 11 overs.
Diago, unusually, could not find a good line and was replaced by Sara. Academy looked to score at every opportunity, but opening bowler Vishal bowled with great accuracy tying down one end, his opening spell 7 – 4 – 15 – 2.
FP’s tried several bowlers to break a good stand by Abinav and Amol, and it was Shri who ended the partnership when Amol was unluckily given LBW for an aggressive 52 (1 x 6, 9 x 4), Academy 106 – 3.
New batsman Amit obviously wanted to get home out of the cold and he and Abinav scored rapidly, taking the total to 187 and victory to within a boundary when Amit was caught at cover by Johnston just holding on one handed to a powerful drive, Amit out for 34 (4 x 4) Academy 187 – 4 off 32 overs, Vishal the deserving bowler.
Lucky came out to finish things off, but was not so lucky when Shri held on to a juggling return catch, Lucky out for a single boundary, Academy 188 – 5. The Academy mini, but FP’s point gaining, collapse ended with the opening batsman Abinav scoring the winning boundary and ending 60 not out (3 x 6, 6 x 4), Academy 192 – 5 off 34.2 overs.
Pick of the bowlers for FP’s were Vishal 10.2 – 3 – 40 – 3 and Shri 6 – 0 – 16 – 2. The other bowlers for FP’s Diago, Sara, Sid, Guru and Gillies bowled well at times, but not consistently enough. FP’s fielded well for a first game of the season and all catches were taken, possibly due to the hand warmers distributed once the windchill took effect, in the 2nd over. Special mention to Jim Lee who volunteered to keep wicket for the first time since school days and conceded only 3 byes.
The match was played in a very friendly atmosphere, Academy fielders were vocal appealers, but accepted every decision without question.
Champagne Moment – Diago’s boundary to bring up his first 50 for FP’s
Man of the Match – Prakash taking 6 – 38, with 5 in 4 overs
