Rubislaw, home of AGSFP’s Cricket Club, was not the venue for the historic first Grade 3 match between FP’s 3rd XI and FP’s 2nd XI. That honour fell to Sheddocksley, adopted home ground of the 3rd XI. Just to make 3rd XI feel even more at home, the same dodgy, undulating pitch supplied two weeks previously against 2nd Ellon, was supplied again.
The 3rd XI team selected for this advertised “grudge match” was as follows, Johnston, Sandeep, Norwood, Aninda, Lord, Guru, Diago, D’Costa, Shriram, wicketkeeper Kingshuk, debutant and secret weapon, Mahesh. The opposition squad, currently keeping the high flying 1st XI on its toes, is far too big to list and the final team selection as named in their match report. Grudge match?
The first ball of the game bowled by Whyte was controversially given as a wide, in hindsight not a very clever idea to annoy Whyte the fast bowler on this dodgy wicket, never mind Whyte the match winner batsman on this bowling green.
Paul Norwood opened the batting with Aninda and hit a great boundary off Whyte’s first legal ball. Aninda then got off the mark with two runs off opening bowler Rama. Aninda was dropped at slip second over, but Rama showed his fielders how to catch with a magnificent one handed catch diving to his left, Aninda out for 2, FP’s 10 – 1 3.4 overs.
James Lord played a great hook shot to the boundary to get off the mark as Rama, having to bowl uphill, into the wind and field like a demon, lost his rhythm.
FP’s 2nds discussed the play list then decided to turn to Eagles, that bowling Desperado. Eagles would spin it at 45 rpm or maybe just 33 1/3rd on this turning deck. Batsman Lord, just another New Kid in Town to Eagles, decided to Take it to the Limit and advanced down the track every ball. The question was How Long until Life in the Fast Lane would catch up with the adventurous young batsman. Eagles had a Peaceful Easy Feeling and decided to Take it Easy as Lord advanced again to go for his greatest hit off Eagles. But Eagles could see it was Already Gone and Lord was easily stumped by an alert keeper Joy. Lord out for 4, FP’s 31 – 2, 9.1 overs.
Whyte was bowling fast, downhill with the wind behind him, but Norwood was resolute in defiance, a Churchillian scowl of defiance as the ball often reared off a length, aw yes.
Guru was batting with great restraint, scoring 6, unusually not all in one shot, but singles, the batsmen finding runs hard to come by off Eagles and new bowler Siddarth. It was Siddarth who dismissed Guru, caught and bowled for 6, FP’s 43 – 3 off 18.3 overs.
Diago also got off the mark with a good boundary, but then was very unfortunate when Rizwan also took a magnificent one handed catch at slip off the bowling of Siddarth.
New man Mahesh, making a long awaited debut, was unfortunately out for a duck, brilliantly caught by Whyte who held onto a very high, swirling catch. The batsmen could have finished a second run the ball was airborne that long. The catching by 2nd XI was getting better every catch!
Opening batsman Norwood had been holding the 2nds innings together with some great defence interspersed with attacking shots, but was finally dismissed after playing his best innings of the season, scoring 36 (6 x 4), FP’s 86 – 6 off 29.2 overs, bowled by Magesh. Norwood’s appeal that the bails had not been removed was correct, but sadly there is always a know all in the opposition to point out that the bails had been long removed due to the wind.
Johnston and D’Costa added a quick 27 before Rizwan brought about a(nother) badly timed off-drive by the 3rd XI captain straight to 2nd XI captain Magesh who took the catch, an easy catch made difficult by the advancing batsman shouting “mine”. The catch was held, despite a pre- match captains gentleman’s agreement not to dismiss each other. This would not be forgotten… Johnston out for 17, (3 x 4)
Shri then played a couple of good shots before being caught by Siddarth off Rizwan for 6 (1 x 4) FP’s 121 – 8.
Last week’s top scorer for 3rds D’Costa was unimpressed by the much vaunted 2nd XI bowling and smacked four cracking boundaries during his counter attack before being bowled by Whyte for 20, score 123 – 9.
Kingshuk and Sandeep batted with great determination defying all that Whyte and Rizwan could bowl at them, using up seven vital overs and adding much needed runs, almost gaining a precious 7th bonus point, but Sandeep was LBW to Whyte without scoring, leaving Kingshuk a well played 6 n.o. FP’s 129 all out off 42.4 overs.
Norwood and D’Costa batted splendidly and had FP’s 3rds batted with the same determination in previous matches, there would have been a few more victories to celebrate.
Wicket takers for 2nds Siddarth 3 – 17, Rizwan 2 – 7, Whyte 2 – 15, Eagles 1 – 5, Rama 1 – 21. Magesh 1 – 37. Warney, er, Whiteley went wicketless, his own fault for turning the ball far too much.
Tea was taken with entertainment on this special occasion kindly provided by the Mastrick Motorcycle Display Team.
2nd XI openers Whyte and Barker were made to battle as opening bowler D’Costa bowled with pace and accuracy. Mahesh was volunteered to bowl into the wind and this being his first game of the season, took an over to find his line.
Barker was first to be dismissed as net-knowledge proved useful when D’Costa bowled him for a duck, 2nd FP’s 9 – 1.
Whyte was soon opening his shoulders and hit a lovely straight drive for 6 off Mahesh one bounce over the fence. A long search in the undergrowth produced only a golf ball, found by an absolutely thrilled James Lord and judging by the look on his face, he probably slept with it under his pillow that night.
Fortunately for the FP’s bank balance, Whyte’s next two sixes were pulls off D’Costa which were easier to retrieve in the outfield. Dyce airport air traffic control had decided to divert flights away from Sheddocksley until recent record breaking double centurian Whyte was dismissed.
The all clear was given after 11 overs when schoolboy D’Costa bowled a jaffa to Whyte, who did well to edge behind to schoolboy wicketkeeper Kingshuk who gleefully held the catch. The dismissal sending an audible gasp round the ground, 2nd FP’s 48 – 2 with the 2nd XI players looking at each other unsure what to do next.
(Whyte scored a scratchy 35 ( 3 x 6, 4 x 4) meaning 3rd XI stalwart Norwood would be top scorer in the match with 36)
Mahesh was still bowling very quickly uphill into the gale force wind making all the batsmen play and miss regularly, the uneven bounce off the ridge having the batsman hop about. Mahesh took a well-deserved wicket in his 5th over when he caught and bowled Siddarth for 2, 2nd FP’s wobbling on 48 – 3.
Rizwan batted his normal calm way, scoring his runs with minimal fuss and lovely timed shots.
Some might have said the outfield was by now noticeably quicker under the blazing sun and strong wind, as during the first innings great shots had stopped short of the boundary, but now even thin edges were now racing away from the pursuing fielders.
Joy had settled down at the crease after a shaky start but Guru took a well-deserved wicket when he bowled Joy for 13 ( 2 x 4), 2nd FP’s 82 – 4.
The ball was turning nicely for Lord and he was rewarded when he bowled Rizwan for 25 (5 x 4), 2nd FP’s 115 – 5 off 26 overs.
With only 4 runs required by the 2nds, a bowling change saw Johnston replace Lord. 2nd XI skipper Magesh was well set on 16 ( 2 x 4) and looking for a nice comfortable not out to boost his averages.
Net fodder Johnston’s first ever bowl for FP’s saw him tease Magesh with a couple of sighters before the bowler put the by now hapless batsman out of his misery by bowling a totally unexpected straight ball which the mesmerised Magesh played all round and the 3rd XI captains revenge was complete. The bowler had to plead to be lowered from his team mates shoulders as the distraught and utterly humiliated batsman trudged off. There is no place for gloating at FP’s.
Following the extended lap of honour, new batsman Rama, under intense pressure, faced the second ball of the seemingly inevitable hat trick, but showed just how good a batsman he is even with his eyes closed and fingers crossed, by pulling a ball just short of a long hop length to the boundary. 2nd XI panic over, the winning score 130 – 6 off 27 and .5 of an inspired over.
Wicket takers for 3rd FP’s were D’Costa 6 – 2 – 22 – 2, Lord 5 – 1 – 13 – 1, Guru 5 – 0 – 27 – 1, Mahesh 8 – 0 – 32 – 1 and that sensational 0.5 – 0 – 4 – 1.
Man of the Match – Kieran Whyte, bowled well, batted ok, took a great catch
Champagne Moment – Occurred 27.5 overs into the 2nd XI innings
After the match both teams enjoyed a friendly pitch side drink and the Champagne Moment bottle was also consumed. Fortunately Dr Joy was on hand when Magesh choked on the champagne
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