The weather had been miserable during the week, but fortunately it was only cold and foggy on Saturday morning, and so the first game for FP’s 3rd XI in the reformed Grade 4 was at the new home ground at Harlaw. The FP’s team selected to play against Stonehaven 2nd XI was Ian Johnston, Sandeep Dhanamani, Saravana Kumar, Paul Norwood, Rutwig Hedge, James Lord, Shriram Balasubramani, Vishal Desai, Arunkumar Chithambaram, Harsh Nama, Naga Chaitu.
The toss was won by FP’s who asked Stonehaven to bat first. The artificial wicket looked good having just had any loose mud and surface water blown away by a blower wielding groundsman. The outfield, however, was long and wet.
FP’s debutant Harsh opened the bowling from the Cromwell Road end with Sandeep bowling from the Pavillion End. It was the spin of Sandeep which took the first wicket. Having just bowled a wide which the opener Long had tried to smash, the bowler then bowled one just within reach of Long and he struck the ball straight to cover fielder Johnston, who was happy to accept the offering. Long out for 3, Stonehaven 14 – 1 off 3.5 overs. Sandeep then bowled another wide which new batsman Gouws sensibly left but last ball of the over the batsman played around a straight ball and was bowled for a duck, Stonehaven 15 – 2.
Harsh was bowling with some good swing and beat the batsman on several occasions. But it was Sandeep who took his 3rd wicket in the 12th over when opener Kerrwas out LBW for 11, Stonehaven 31 -3.
Late arrival Vishal had served his time and was brought on to replace Harsh who had bowled a good spell of 6 – 0 – 16 – 0 and was unlucky not to take a wicket.
Vishal took his first and second wickets in his third over, both batsmen being bowled by perfect in swinging deliveries, both out for a duck, Stonehaven 37 – 5.
Sandeep was rested after great spell of 10 – 1 – 21 – 3, replaced by Lord who took an over to find his line. In the meantime Vishal gave nothing away and took another wicket when Harsh jogged in to catch Abid for 1, Stonehaven 44 – 6. There then followed a dropped catch which led to a run out as P. Law was dismissed for 21. A catch was dropped at mid on, but some quick thinking by Sri at mid off who threw the ball back quickly to Lord and a deft back flick by Lord left top scorer just short of the line, Stonehaven 58 – 7. Lord then bowled a limping Valthern,who had used a runner due to an injury, for 5.
King was then bowled by Vishal for a duck and youngster H Wilson was last man out when bowled by Lord, also without scoring. F. Mearns had showed a straight bat and was not out 0. Stonehaven 2nd XI all out 59 off 27.2 overs.
For FP’s Vishal bowled 8 – 1 – 7 – 4, Sandeep 10 – 1 – 27 – 3, Lord 3.2 – 0 – 13 – 2 and Harsh 6 – 0 – 16 – 0. The fielding by FP’s was not bad for a first game, the run out was well executed, volunteer keeper Norwood kept well with only two byes and schoolboy Hedge fired in some good throws from the outfield, even with a coat on!
With 62 overs available to score 60 runs and the weather clearing up nicely, FP’s were in no need to score quickly. Openers Norwood and Lord took their time and kept out the straight balls as there was a steady stream of wides and byes which took any pressure off. Lord hit the first boundary of the innings off Gouws when he nicely timed a shot off his legs for four.
The score had moved quietly on to 42 when Lord skied a drive to cover off Vathern where the catch was well taken, FP’s 42 – 1 off 15 overs. Harsh and Norwood survived a testing over from H. Wilson and then saw FP’s safely home. Norwood struck the only other boundary of the match ending 18 not out, Harsh 6 not out, FP’s 60 -1 off 22.4 overs.
A comprehensive victory for FP’s who made the early breakthrough and were always in command. The bowlers bowled well and the batsmen did what they had to do with minimum fuss. The match was played in a friendly atmosphere and the sun even briefly appeared.
Man of the Match – Paul Norwood – didn’t phone to see if the game was off, arrived early with food and flask as requested, volunteered to keep wicket and top scored – a captain’s dream
Champagne Moment – Quick thinking by James Lord for the run out
