A wonderful win by the British & Irish Lions immediately preceding FP 2nd’s clash against Academy at Duthie Park had everyone pumped up for the game. That is if by everyone you meant Vice-Captain Barker who was the only member of the team who knew that the Lions even existed as a rugby team let alone that they had just won their first test series for 16 years.
With no-one interested in Barker’s flowing descriptions of the Lions’ tries and Halfpenny’s wonderful kicking, FPs opened the bowling with Chovatiya from the bandstand end and Mohanan with the Winter Gardens at his back.
Both bowlers were quickly into their stride and, despite some nice stroke play from Academy, had a couple of early catching chances; Barker putting down one which he would usually have taken in the covers. Fortunately the big Englishman had the chance to redeem himself shortly after as he took a tumbling catch from the bowling of Chovatiya to dismiss Safeer for 13.
The next Academy batsman couldn’t stay around long either after a mix up saw him run out for 3; a good throw in giving Chalkie plenty of time to whip the bails off.
Adnan could only make 9 before some excellent bowling from Shetty drew a lofted shot to mid-off where the catch was pouched by Captain Devendran. Not content with an assist Devendran then stepped up to bowl and promptly took the wicket of Shreekanth clipping the top of off stump with one that turned just enough. The batsman departed for 6.
Academy appeared to be throwing their wickets away, playing overly aggressively to a very disciplined FP bowling attack. Only Prakash seemed to be taking his time, scoring from the bad balls and playing straight to everything else. Fortunately Shetty had really found his line and finally drew a poor shot from him which was caught by an unknown hero. Prakash left the middle with 23 and the score 77-5.
Next man in Amit played some nice shots contributing 17 to the 6th wicket partnership before being caught from the bowling of that man Shetty. Praful made 8 with some good running before being caught as well, this time off a ball of immaculate line and length by Mohammed. With Academy reeling on 103 -7 FPs applied further pressure as Timothy went for a duck, another catch taken off, you’ve guessed it, Shetty.
Majid and Ashin managed to help the Academy score along a bit scoring 12 and 10 respectively but they were both cleaned up by Mohammed, Majid caught (how many catches now?) and Ashin LBW. With a few extras to help their cause Academy had posted 133, a score which looked somewhat below par for a team sitting second in the league.
Best of the bowling came from Shetty 4-26 and Mohammed 3-17, aided by some excellent catching from FPs.
With a seemingly modest target to reach FPs sent out Chalkie and Barker to open, a word of warning in their ears regarding the pace and bounce of Academy bowler Safeer.
That warning turned out to be valid as Safeer peppered the batsmen with the short stuff in a scene reminiscent of the infamous Bodyline series 80 years previous.
Neither opener was able to deal with the treatment and both departed without making double figures, Chalkie playing on to one for 3 and Barker deceived by one that wasn’t aimed at his head gone for 5.
With your regular match correspondent disappearing quickly for quiet evening on the town it was left to the umpire to complete the match scribbling. Suffice to say most of the remaining batting line-up showed little inclination to stay much longer than the openers. Indeed it seemed that the FPs lineup were set on getting to the club barbeque in short order.
Star bowler Shetty was the only member of the top order to get in and as he saw off the opening bowlers the runs began to flow. Unfortunately wickets tumbled regularly at the other end. Thangamani, Mohanan and Mohammed all quickly returned to the leafy pavilion before Mantha put up some stiffer resistance.
When Shetty fell for a well worked 27 it looked the game may be up but Mantha and skipper Devendran had other ideas. Constructing an excellent partnership and with the Academy thinktank starting to worry that the visitors might just chase their total.
However Mantha eventually succumbed to Prakash leaving Devendran and Ghosh to see if they could pull off a miracle. It was not to be as Devendran, who had earlier survived a sharp stumping appeal, was trapped in front by the returning Safeer before Ghosh was last man out with a fine tickle to the ‘keeper.
Having bowled and fielded so well the batting efforts were particularly disappointing. Although missing a few regulars the game was winnable but the impressive Academy bowling lineup, particularly opener Safeer who finished with figures of 6 for 17, proved more than capable of defending what looked like a very gettable total.
