A rain laden forecast throughout the week had many fearing that FP 2nds’ game against their Gordonians counterparts would take a backseat to the weather. Fortunately the MET Office were wrong and the Reid Cup QF was played for the most part in bright and warm conditions with FPs proving too strong for an inexperienced Gordonians side, winning as they did by 6 wickets.
Captain Devendran won a surprise toss and chose to bowl, opening with schoolboy D’costa and the more experienced Mohanan. With both bowlers keeping to a tight line and length, particularly young D’costa, and the field working hard it was no surprise that FPs struck early. Barker made a good diving stop at cover, palming the ball to Mohanan who threw accurately to keeper Joy leaving him with a comfortable stumping. Airey couldn’t make his ground and departed for 5.
Unfortunately that was to be the last wicket for a while as Jones scored an impressive half century for Gordonians blasting boundaries around the ground despite suffering a leg injury in the process. Harper blocked up the other end scoring 14 before being bowled by Shetty with a beautiful swinging ball which clipped the top of off stump.
Jones departed soon afterwards for a well played 54, deceived by a well flighted ball from skipper Devendran which took out his leg stump.
Seymour offered a little resistance, scoring 15 before being removed by a quality catch by Mantha running away from the wicket off the bowling of veteran MacDonald. After that the wickets tumbled with Brown (1) bowled by the impressive Shetty, Dolman (11) caught by Devendran at mid-off from the bowling of MacDonald, Abishek (1) the victim of a lazy run-out, Morgan (4) clean bowled by Mantha and Peerless (1) caught and bowled by Devendran.
Playing with only 10 players Gordonians had posted a target of 126 largely due to the efforts of Jones. FPs bowled impressively, keeping a tidy line and length and extracting some bounce and turn from the astro-turf. Shetty, MacDonald and Devendran shone with 2 wickets apiece whilst a very tidy spell from D’costa hinted at what’s to come from the youngster. Mantha and Mohanan both chipped in with a wicket and Whiteley offered some devilish turn and bounce.
After a tidy tea break in a pavilion adorned with the achievements of former Gordon’s pupils, FPs took to the pitch once again to chase down the modest target. Chosen to open the batting were Barker and Das, Barker facing the first ball from Gordonian’s Captain Seymour.
Both batsmen found scoring tough early on, a result of some tidy bowling by Seymour and fellow opener Peerless. This led Barker (7) to try and force the scoring unfortunately getting himself bowled by a low full toss whilst attempting a cross batted shot. Clearly agreeing that the score needed to be pushed along, next batsmen in MacDonald struck a mighty 6 over mid-off and a 4 all along the ground before being caught and bowled by Jones for 11.
Mohanan and Mantha played positively, both scoring well struck boundaries before falling victim to Clark for 5 and 11 respectively. James Lord came to the crease and looked to be in good form but was unfortunately run-out after a quality piece of fielding by Gordonians.
With wickets falling around him Das had steadily accumulated his runs in ones and twos. Now he opened up and with wicketkeeper Joy alongside him brought the game home with 6 overs to spare, both players scoring boundaries from the bad balls and running well between the wickets. Das finished on 46no with Joy 17no and the FPs’ score reading 126 for 5.
Overall the FPs performance was very strong and a marked improvement on the previous week. Every player contributed whether with the ball, the bat or in the field and team spirit was high with encouragement for the bowlers throughout.
Man of the Match – Shared between Das (46no) and Shetty (2-14).
Champagne Moment –Mantha’s catch running away from the middle.
