One of the worst performances for many a year will have to lead to some serious changes for next week’s Grade 4 match against Dunecht. A major embarrassment was only narrowly avoided by FP’s captain hanging around for what seemed like an eternity. The Met office and BBC weather forecasts were completely inaccurate, an early postponement of the Grade 4 fixture between FP’s 3rds and Banchory 2nds was only just avoided by the bravery of the two captains who decided to wait for the downpour to arrive rather than call it off at 1100 hrs when some drizzle fell. The eternal 10 minute wait for the rain to arrive finally ended when the clouds lightened and so fortunately the egg removal from two faces exercise was only just avoided. BBC and Met Office to be replaced by a quick look out of the window on Saturday mornings from now on.
Grammar 2nd XI selected was Johnston, Lord, Norwood, debutant Parminter, Hedge, Desai, d’Costa, Gillies, Shri, Harsh and wicketkeeper Lee. The notorious outfield had been cut, but the harvest had been left lying to act like a green version of a Grand Prix run off area. But not in this case to aid the drivers.
FP’s won the toss and invited Banchory captain Wilkinson to bat first. This he did along with Thornton, and the openers had only scored 8 when FP’s best bowler Desai cleaned bowled Wilkinson for 2, Banchory 7 – 1off 2.2 overs. Thornton was next to be dismissed when Desai had him out LBW without scoring. Banchory 11 – 2.
Harsh had been bowling well, but conceding a few wides due to a slippery surface and was replaced after bowling 5 overs for 23 runs. Schoolboy Hedge replaced Harsh and bowled 5 accurate overs before taking his first Grades wicket for FP’s, bowling the experienced Campbell with an unplayable delivery, Campbell out for 8, Banchory 42 – 3 off 22 overs.
Lord had replaced the accurate Desai (7 – 5 – 2—2) but had to wait until his 6th over before fooling Chikanna with a full toss which dipped onto the stumps, Chikanna out for 12 (1×4), Banchory 48 – 4. Hedge had bowled a good accurate spell, longer than planned, of 9 – 1 – 17 – 1, and was replaced by another schoolboy d’Costa. This meant a d’Costa bowling on both sides of the Harlaw wall with 3rd XI Leston d’Costa out bowling his 2nd XI brother by taking 1 – 22 off 6 good overs, his wicket courtesy of a great, nonchalant one handed catch by Tim Gillies.
Lord was grateful to Hedge for taking a well judged catch at mid wicket, Ramesh out for 8 (1×4). Desai returned to bowl Sharma for 11 (1×4) and then Brown in successive deliveries, both great inswingers hitting middle stump. The hat trick ball was confidently driven by T. Groves who almost gave a catch, the ball landing a clear distance in front of the fielder, despite what a still inebriated from the Scotland vs England match first slip may have seen, the third of the three balls he was seeing all match may have looked like it got close…
Parminter bowled a steady spell of 5 – 2 – 9 – 0, d’Costa 6 – 0 – 22 – 1, Lord 9 – 0 – 27 – 2, Hedge 9 – 1 – 17 – 1, Harsh 7 – 0 – 23 – 0 with Desai the stand out bowler 10 – 5 – 7 – 4.
Banchory reached a total of 123 for 8 off 46 overs mainly due to J. Douglas who batted aggressively and placed a few lofted shots between fielders, Douglas scoring 33 not out (2×4), Graves 2 not out, Banchory also helped by a few too many wides, the total could have been more daunting had the grass and soft outfield not been so slow.
Norwood and Lord began the reply for FP’s, but Lord was soon out when trying to sweep Sharma and lobbing up an easy catch, Lord out for 4, FP’s 7 – 1. Norwood soon followed, LBW to Ramesh without scoring, FP’s 7 – 2. Parminter had looked comfortable playing everything with a very straight bat, but then gave Sharma an easy caught and bowled, Sharma’s teammates a bit stunned with the catch.
Hedge came in at number 4 and played the shot of the match when he straight drove Sharma to the boundary and followed it up with another drive for 2. Unfortunately Hedge gave Ramesh a caught and bowled for 8, FP’s 20 – 4. Desai did not last long, bowled by Wilkinsonfor 2, d’Costa batted with good technique and patience before steering a catch to gully off Wilkinson for 3, FP’s 29 -6 off 19 overs. Things were looking bleak for Grammar when Shri was out LBW to Groves for 2, FP’s 34 – 7 off 25 overs.
Gillies and Johnston then dug in and were looking safe when there was a run out. Johnston pulled a delivery to deep square leg and took 3 runs, then seeing the return fall well short, called for a fourth run. Unfortunately Gillies did not hear the call until too late and was left stranded, run out for 3, FP’s 47 – 8 off 29 overs.
New batsman Hash was another who looked in no difficulty until giving mid wicket catching practice off Ramesh, out for 1, FP’s 49 – 9. This left FP’s 10 overs to bat for a draw which Johnston and Lee did without giving any chances, Johnston ending 12 not out, Lee 10 not out, FP’s 65 for 9.
Wicket takers for Banchory, Ramesh 3 – 13, Wilkinson 2- 6 off 12, Sharma 2 – 19, Groves 1 – 7
FP’s bowled well but gave away far too many wides and with a deadly slow outfield this was always going to be a difficult chase. Wickets fell at regular intervals and FP’s ended having to hang on for the draw.
Man of the Match – Rutwik Hedge, took his first wicket for FP’s, held a good catch, and hit the shot of the day
Champagne Moment – Tim Gillies one handed catch
