For the first time in many years, an AGSFP’s XI traveled to Kemnay to play at Bogbeth Park. The team chosen to play the Kemnay – Kintore 1st XI was Johnston, Sandeep, Aninda, Norwood, Joy, Vishal, Shriram, Satya, Saravana, Gillies, Arun.
FP’s lost the toss again and were asked by Kemnay-Kintore captain Liam Thom to bat first. The wicket looked flat and dry and the outfield was in good condition, even if the boundary looked a bowlers boundary.
Norwood and Das opened the batting in perfect conditions for playing cricket, blue sky, warm sunshine and a gentle breeze across the ground.
The score has moved to 12 without any real problem when Norwood was out LBW to L. Thom for 5. Soon after Johnston was out for 1, bowled by a yorker from J. Thom and FP’s were 18 – 2.
Melvin Joy hit a nice shot back over the bowlers head to get off the mark, the long boundary meaning only 2 runs, but then next over tried a similar shot but was bowled by the L. Thom for 2, FP’s 22 – 3 off 11.2 overs.
New batsman Vishal and Aninda batted carefully against the good accurate bowling of the Thom’s, until a double bowling change saw a burst of scoring as A. Radnall gave away several wides, the bowler found it difficult to bowl a good line against two left handed batsmen. At the other end Vishal hit a cracking cut to the boundary off J.Holt’s fourth ball.
Radnal was replaced by De La Cruz who did find a better line and length especially against Vishal. Aninda was cutting De La Cruz successfully and the speed of the outfield helped Aninda score steadily. This stand quietened down the bantering KK fielders, even Deans was not heard for at least an over! Seen but not heard.
A drinks break perked up the KK team and 2 overs later, Holt who had been tieing down the batsmen, got his reward when Vishal was out caught by L. West for 7, FP’s 58 – 4 off 25.4 overs. The fourth wicket partnership was worth a valuable 34 runs, a good effort as the bowling was tight, the ground fielding good and the throwing accurate.
Shriram joined Aninda and the 5th wicket raised 15 valuable runs before Shriram was caught by Fyffe off Holt for 3, FP’s 75 – 5 off 32.1 overs. Aninda continued to thwart the KK bowlers with good defence and the patience to wait for the occasional bad ball, perfectly illustrated when he pulled a wide leg side delivery from De La Cruz to the fine leg boundary.
Satya never settled and was out without scoring, as was Saravana, FP’s familiar collapse now in full swing. Unfortunately Aninda was also dismissed for an excellent 38 (3 x 4), sharply caught at slip by Prosser above his head, FP’s subsiding to78 – 8.
Gillies showed a glimpse of resistance with a cracking pull shot off Holt which raced to the boundary. Unfortunately Holt had the last word when Gillies was out next ball for 4. Arun managed to score 1 run in a spirited cameo before Sandeep was out for a duck, FP’s all out for 83 off 37.2 overs.
Wicket takers for KK were Holt 11.2 – 3 – 20 – 5, L. Thom 7 – 3 – 9 – 2, J. Thom 9 – 3 – 12 – 2, De La Cruz 8 – 1 – 25 – 1.
Following tea out of the sun in the cool bowling club pavilion, FP’s took to the field knowing that they would require a bowling display similar to that which almost shocked Knightriders the previous week. Vishal opened the bowling with Gillies bowling from the pavilion end.
Gillies struck in his second over by having L.West out LBW for 5, KK 17 – 1. Vishal then took 2 wickets in the same over as wicketkeeper Joy comfortably held on to an edge from J.Thom who scored a rapid 17 (1 x 6, 2 x 4), KK 48 – 2. L. Thom was also given out LBW for a duck, KK 48 – 3 off 6.4 overs.
FP’s were grateful to the KK players who helped find the ball dispatched for 6 over the boundary into the trees while several of the FP’s players sat down, tired after 5 overs in the field…
J. Holt came in and immediately hit two boundaries, but Vishal took a much deserved third wicket when Johnston slid in from cover to just get under a catch, Holt out for 10 (2 x 4), KK 70 – 4. Opener Prosser had been content to keep out the good balls and hit the bad balls, mainly to the boundary.
A strangely quiet G. Deans was concentrating intensely and hit the winning runs with a nice shot off his legs and was 10 n.o. with the experienced Prosser 31 n.o. (5 x 4) KK winning with 84 – 4 off 14.5 overs.
Wicket takers for FP’s Vishal 7.5 – 3 – 16 – 3, Gillies 2 – 0 – 20 – 1.
Another disappointing batting display by FP’s which must improve if the 3rd XI are going to have any chance of making it to the top 6 in Grade 3. Aninda was again top batsman, Vishal bowled well and deserved his wickets.
FP’s 3rds took only 7 points and a suntan from this game and will need to get back to winning again soon.
Champagne Moment – Tim’s pull for four which sounded as good as it looked
FP’s Man of the Match – Aninda, only FP’s batsman in double figures, showed the application and technique required against good bowling and fielding
