The forecast suggested this game should never have gone ahead, a week of rain and mist preceding this season opener between FPs 2nd XI and Turriff. However, as Saturday dawned, the rain held off and a bold call by FPs Captain Devendran allowed the game to commence on time.
The FPs team selected to face Turriff was as follows, Devendran (c) , Barker (vc), Whyte, Maradona, Thangamani, Campbell, Russell, Gopal, Chovatiya and Lee (wk), with sturdy South African Shaun Mountain making his FPs debut.
Turriff chose to bat first with Chalmers to face, 38 overs later he was the only batsmen to have scored more than 3 in an innings that was notable only for its complete lack of attacking intent. In a great display of controlled bowling, FPs managed to restrict Turriff to only 30 runs despite the innings reaching the 38th over.
Chovatiya in particular bowled an excellent line and length to clean bowl Ling, Smart and Duncan for a combined total of 1 run. Devendran, having lost none of his guile during the off-season, picked up the wickets of Soper and Jacques, both for ducks, Gopal taking a great catch on the rebound at gully to remove Soper.
Gopal chipped in with his own wicket, bowling Balment after the unfortunate batsman was bamboozled by the flight and pace of a typically lofted delivery from the wily spin-master.
Chalmers was eventually claimed by Whyte for 16 after a sensational one handed catch by Chovatiya, taken low down to his right at mid off. Mountain picked up a debut wicket as he bowled Laing with a pitched up swinging delivery and with two juniors at the crease for Turriff, Russell rounded off the innings by bowling Woolley for 2. Jim Lee kept wicket with aplomb throughout.
After a quick tea FPs returned to the middle in the form of openers Barker and Whyte. Both returned shortly afterwards, quickly followed by Diego and Thangamani after an inspired spell of swing bowling from Laing. With the scoreline reading 6 for 4, FPs were suddenly wondering where the remaining 25 runs were going to come from.
Fortunately Campbell and Mountain were on hand to steady the ship and keep out the excellent bowling of Laing, ably assisted by Ling at the other end. (I’m not making it up; Turriff’s opening bowlers are called Ling and Laing). With the help of extras (12), Campbell (14 n.o.) and Mountain (3 n.o.) managed to bring FPs over the line in the 14th over.
Many thanks to Turriff for making their way into Aberdeen for what must have looked like a doomed attempt to play in the rain. Next week’s fixture sees FPs face what will likely be a strong Portcullis team at Duthie Park.
Man of the Match – Hemalkumar Chovatiya, bowled well and took a fantastic one-handed catch at mid-off.
