The incredible summer for cricket continued as AGSFP’s 3rd XI travelled very slowly through road works en route to Dunecht for a Grade 3 match. FP’s team selected as follows – Johnston, Sandeep, Aninda, John Lord, Vishal, Guru, Diago Maradona, Jesten D’Costa, Lee (wkt), Rahul, Shriram.
Dunecht in sunshine and blue skies is another great venue to play cricket, the cricket pitch set in the Cowdrey Estate, full of character(s), surrounded by lovely views through the thinned out trees.
Australia have more chances of winning the Ashes than FP’s have of winning a toss, FP’s duly invited to bat first. The wicket looked flat but with a bit of green, the outfield was still damp in places following overnight rain.
John Lord, on holiday in Aberdeen and slowly battling his way back to fitness, opened the batting with Aninda. The batsmen played the opening overs carefully as requested by FP’s captain, with few real scares. The bowling was accurate and the outfield quite lush, so runs were at a premium.
Once the opening overs were passed, the heat took its toll of just about everyone except bowlers Derret and Roberts who manfully ran in to bowl as Lord and Das continued to attempt to outscore each other, with dot balls.
The atmosphere was very subdued on and off the park, only the sound of a shotgun from the nearby woods keeping the umpires awake. The score had trundled to 18 without loss off 13 overs when the first drinks break was taken, during which the batsmen were reminded that FP’s had hoped for more than one batting point on the day. Immediately after drinks, Red Bull guzzling Aninda was out attempting to hit Poppleton out of the ground and was easily caught for 13 (1 x 4), FP’s 20 – 1 off 14 .3 overs.
Warm milky drinker Lord was next to be dismizzzzed, plumb LBW to Dunecht skipper Burnett for 7, FP’s 23 for 2 off 15.2 overs.
Guru immediately stirred everyone out of their slumbers when he hit Poppleton for a big 6. Vishal was promoted in the order following his great knock against Ellon, but he was soon out bowled by Burnett for 6 (1 x 4) FP’s 28 for 3.
Next over Guru was out caught on the boundary trying to play the same shot for 6 off Poppleton, Guru well caught by Merryweather, the newly installed fielder in that position, for 7 (1 x 6), FP’s 39 – 4.
Maradona’s first innings for some time was unsuccessful as he was bowled round his legs for a duck by Burnett. Soon after Johnston was run out, also for a duck, a good return by the sub fielder (!) to the bowlers end as Johnston passed the time of day with his batting partner at the other end. FP’s batting evaporating, 44 – 6.
Shri was unlucky to be bowled for 1 by Burnett when the ball rebounded off the back of his bat and rolled back to dislodge a bail, FP’s hopes now in complete meltdown in the heat at 47 for 7 off 25 overs.
Fortunately for FP’s D’Costa and wicketkeeper Lee were in no mood to go down without a fight and added a face saving and potential match winning stand of 42 runs, hitting the bowlers to the boundary with a series of powerfully hit drives and pulls. Lee’s bat probably older than his batting partner, but both impressive in the middle.
It took an outstanding diving catch at slip by Donald off Roberts to dismiss Lee for 19 (4 x 4), FP’s 89 – 8 off 35.4 overs.
Gopal was unluckily given out LBW off a thin edge, Dunecht’s hot spot machine, like the umpire, malfunctioning in the heat, FP’s 91 – 9. D’Costa tried to farm the bowling, but it was the country dwellers who harvested the last wicket when Sandeep was bowled by Roberts, FP’s 92 all out, top scorer D’Costa not out 28 (4 x 4).
D’Costa and Lee apart, the batting display by FP’s was again poor. The wicket was not easy, the outfield slow, but there were several batsmen who got themselves out.
Dunecht captain Burnett took the bowling honours, 7 – 1 – 18 – 4, with Poppleton taking 2 – 24, Roberts 2 – 29 and Derret 1 – 22.
Following tea in the Grade 3 listed Pavilion, Dunecht openers Derret and Milne faced FP’s opening bowlers Vishal and D’Costa knowing that the FP’s total was probably worth another 20 runs due to the thick outfield and an early breakthrough or two would mean FP’s may be in with a chance.
FP’s current pupil D’Costa struck first, having his PE (certainly not mathematics) teacher ‘Mr’ Milne out, caught off a lifting delivery which the batsman did well to play down, but not quite out of the reach of Rahul diving in from short square leg to grab the ball inches from the turf, Dunecht 3 – 1 off 3.5 overs.
Dunecht were tied down by the accurate Vishal and D’Costa, the pressure telling on Derret who slashed at a ball from Vishal only to see Guru pull off a brilliant reflex catch at a short gully position, Guru catching the speeding ball with both hands above his head, the unlucky Derret out for 3, Dunecht 7 – 2.
Batsmen Witz and Donald added 20 runs before Donald was out LBW to Vishal for 14 (2 x 4), quickly followed by Chowdary, also LBW to Vishal for a duck, Dunecht 30 – 4.
D’Costa was given a rest after an impressive spell of 5 – 1 – 14 – 1 and replaced by Guru. Dunecht were finding it difficult to score off Vishal, but after bowling 9 – 5 – 10 – 3, Vishal was also given a breather.
New bowler Sandeep struck with his first ball as the patient Witz was unlucky to play on, out for 10, Dunecht 41 – 5. Merryweather and DeGabrielle took advantage of any loose bowling and added 29 valuable runs before Guru had DeGabrielle caught by Vishal for 11 (2 x 4), Dunecht 67 – 6 off 26 overs.
The game was still in the balance, but FP’s made heavy weather of trying to get Merryweather out. A couple of chances were missed, but just as it looked as if Dunecht had the game won, the second over of a new spell by Vishal had Merryweather very well caught behind by Lee for 26 (5 x 4), Dunecht 88 – 7.
Nicol had been looking to play his shots and had hit a couple of well struck boundaries and despite a few nervy moments, Roberts hit the winning runs for Dunecht who won by 3 wickets, Nicol 12 n.o. (2 x 4), Roberts 5 n.o. (1 x 4).
FP’s again lost a tight match where if each of their batsman had scored only 1 or 2 extra runs, could well have pulled off a victory. Vishal and D’Costa bowled very well and keeper Lee was outstanding. The match was played in great spirit as usual at Dunecht, both teams giving LBW’s and FP’s giving an, ahem, borderline run out.
Champagne Moment – Guru’s reflex catch
Man of the Match – Jesten D’Costa, top scorer in the match with 28 not out, took 1 – 20 and has school boasting rights until being expelled, probably not long into his first PE lesson
