Following an unexpected free Saturday last week when Stonehaven 2nds scratched, AGSFP’s 3rd XI were away to Gordonians 3rd XI at Countesswells for their Grade 3 clash. The team selected was Johnston, Sandeep, Siddarth, Aninda, Norwood, Lee, Gillies, Vishal, Goodenough (wkt), Shriram, D’Costa.
The toss was won by FP’s who decided to bowl first on an overcast day with the weather forecasters state of the art computers promising rain later. Maybe.
Vishal began from the Pavilion End and immediately found some swing. D’Costa opened from the non Pavillion End and immediately found too much swing as the first delivery was nicely turned to the fine leg boundary by Potten. However, D’Costa immediately responded with some very accurate bowling which the batsman did well to keep out.
The first wicket came in the 6th over with Gordonians total 13 when D’Costa bowled Fraser for a duck. Vishal then took a wicket next over with a great inswinger, bowling Potten for 4 (1 x 4).
Ansarj was bowled by Vishal, breaking a bail in the process. The key wicket was Jones, who was caught & bowled by Vishal without scoring. Shetty and Sandeep took over from Vishal and D’Costa and ran through the Gordonians batting with only Cairey and youngster Thanga delaying the inevitable. The Gordos batsmen were struggling to score any runs, the good bowling being helped by some keen fielding. Cairey was eventually bowled by a cunning legstump full toss by Sandeep. Akhil Thanga showed his more experienced colleagues how to bat, scoring two good legside boundaries off Siddarth and ended 10 not out.
Gordonians were dismissed for 52, wicket takers for FP’s Vishal 7 – 4 – 2 – 3, D’Costa 5 – 1 – 12 – 1, Siddarth 5 – 1 – 15 – 3, Sandeep 5.5 – 0 – 14 – 3.
Tea was postponed and FP’s sent out regular openers Siddarth and Aninda to hopefully remove any jitters from what could be an awkward total if early wickets had fallen. This almost went to plan as Siddarth smashed two sixes in the first over, but Aninda, feeling sorry for the Gordonians fielders, decided to keep them interested by giving slip some catching practice and guided a catch straight to the fielder at 2nd slip, FP’s 13 – 1.
The aggressive Siddarth broke his captains old bat, then load tested the current bat in residence with a string of powerful drives, lesson obviously not learned by either.
Siddarth was eventually out for 40 ( 2 x 6, 4 x 4, 1 x bat). D’Costa then joined Norwood who was soon out caught for 4 off Lynas. D’Costa hit a nice four off his legs and Vishal ended the match with his first run, FP’s 53 – 3 of 8.2 overs.
A comprehensive win for FP’s against an understrength Gordonians 3rd XI team which has already scratched several games this season. The hope is that they can fulfil their fixtures this season and return next season.
The win keeps FP’s 3rd XI above FP’s 2nd XI for yet another week. The 2nds gained a 30 point walkover this week as Stonehaven 2nd XI again scratched their fixture. An unsatisfactory way to gain full points, but it just keeps them in touch with the 3rd XI who are in the top 6.
Champagne Moment – Big hitting Sid’s second smashing six
Man of the Match – Siddarth, a rapid 40 runs and good spell of 3 – 15
Prior to the start of the match, both teams took part in a minutes silence in memory of Mr Thangamani, father of FP’s player Guru, who sadly died following a road accident in Chennai.
