FP’s 2nd XI faced a 2nd Knightriders team which up to this point in the season had won every game they’d played. Looking to upset the apple cart, FPs put together a strong side to take to the field at Harlaw Academy playing fields.
Captain Magesh won the toss and put the Hoff devotees in to bat. Despite a dropped catch in the first over, FPs struck early on, Whyte forcing the false shot from Amirthraj, Magesh holding on to the catch.
Knightriders then found themselves two down after 6 overs as Whyte caught the edge of Chinnaiyan’s bat with a textbook outswinger which flew through to MacDonald behind the stumps.
Chockalingam didn’t hang around long as he fell for 8, clean bowled by Shetty, whilst Ganganeni made a go of it with 25 before Eagles snuck his first wicket of the day. Eagles should have had about 5 wickets by this time in LBWs, but the umpires seemed strangely reluctant to raise the finger. He was finally awarded one in the 25th over, removing Vallatharasu for 1 and creating a scoreline which read 77 for 5.
Unfortunately for FPs, this was to be the last wicket to fall for some time as Gopinathan (44 n.o) and Mangati (85) put on 123 for the 6th wicket, Mangati eventually ballooning one to Magesh from the bowling of Rizwan. There was just time for Nallahambi to add 11 before Knightriders used up all 46 overs to record a score of 214.
Whyte finished with figures of 2-34, whilst Eagles deserved better than the 2-35 he got.
With the surface favouring the batsmen, FPs were feeling confident as they sent the now familiar partnership of Barker and Whyte out to open the batting. Unfortunately Whyte fell in the second over, bowled off his pads by Nallathambi for 4, whilst Barker soon followed, run out for a duck after a mix-up at the non-striker’s end.
Shetty stayed in for a couple of overs but was caught off Nallathambi for 2, his partner MacDonald staying in long enough to hit some trademark boundaries before succumbing to the same bowler for 21.
FPs were finding runs difficult to come by, the usually aggressive Zahid only managing to score 5 in six overs before being bowled by Balamurali. Samani played a very composed innings but eventually fell to Gopintham for 15.
With FPs on 64 for 6, and another 21 overs still to face, the game was looking all but lost. But they say true class never fades, and in their darkest hour the man simply known as Mr. Eagles stepped up to the plate to rescue FPs. With an immaculate display of batting he saw the visitors home, finishing on 34 n.o. and ably assisted by Mohanan with 29 and Magesh who stayed in to the close with 7 n.o.
Eagles saw off 30 overs of the FP innings to claim a draw from the all winning all dancing Knightriders and rightly earn an ovation from his teammates. A draw was a good result against the top of the table side, but FPs will go into next week’s grudge match against the FPs 3rd XI knowing that only victory will do.
MOM – John Eagles
Champagne Moment – The surprise on Magesh’s face after he had taken his second catch of the day
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