Following the previous weeks’ easy win, FP’s 3rd XI had to make several changes to the line up. A combination of holidays, exams and injuries had meant over 30 players were unavailable, but thanks to texting technology a full team eventually turned up to play against Gordonians 2nd XI at Countesswells.
The FP’s team begged, stolen and harried was Johnston, Sandeep, Saravana, Norwood, Rutwig Hedge, James Lord, Arun, Gillies, Mapplebeck, making his FP’s debut schoolboy Leston D’Costa, and a 12-41 pm registered Selvam Muthu.
A rare opportunity to play on the grass wicket at Countesswells was welcomed by FP’s who lost the toss and were invited to bat by Gordos captain Airey. Openers Norwood and Lord began slowly, tied down by some excellent bowling from Pettit who was swinging and seaming the same delivery and Juneja who was merely very accurate. Norwood was first to be dismissed when he mistimed a shot and was easily caught off Pettit for 3, FP’s 7 – 1.
Next man in was Mapplebeck, normally opening bowler for the 1st XI but on this occasion because of injury, only fit enough to hold a bat and later hobble out to umpire.
Mapplebeck was soon out for a single, turning a ball from Juneja to square leg. FP’s more experienced schoolboy Rutwig Hedge (played 1, batted not) was next in and defended well against the vastly experienced Pettit. However, Hedge was next FP’s batsman out, LBW to Juneja for 1, FP’s 12 – 3 off 8 overs.
Lord had also been tied down by the good bowling and was smartly stumped by the Gordos wicketkeeper when failing to get something behind the line having taken guard outside the crease, top tip from his captain.
Top tipster Johnston did not last long, making the fatal mistake of changing his bat while still on naught and then not using it, out LBW to Juneja. Standing out of the crease and a big stride down the wicket fooling the sympathetic fielder at cover, but not the umpire.
Leston D’Costa walked out to make his debut with FP’s 13 – 5 hardly the ideal situation, but immediately looked more comfortable than his more experienced team mates. The 7th wicket stand with Gillies raised 11 runs before D’Costa was out caught for 3 off new bowler Clark, FP’s 29 – 7 off 25 overs.
Sandeep defended well but was next out for 1, Arun made 2 and top scorer Gillies had batted defiantly but was out caught and bowled by Jones for 6. New signing Muthu made his way to the middle with 19 overs to make a name for himself but unfortunately Saravana was bowled for a duck before FP’s new man could face a ball. FP’s all out 34 off 27.1 overs.
For Gordos, Jones took 3 for 2, Pettit 3 for 10, Juneja 2 for 6, Clark 1 for 8, Doleman 1 for 8. The Gordonians attack was too good and too experienced for the FP’s batsmen.
Gordonians batsmen Stark and Kinshap had a couple of scares and a catch was missed off Sandeep, but the total was reached without losing a wicket. Schoolboys Hedge and D’Costa bowled well, both bowlers bringing out false shots from the opening batsmen.
A vastly more experienced Gordonians team were always on top and were never in danger. For FP’s, the fact that a 3rd team was raised despite so many call offs and the performances of schoolboys Hedge and D’Costa were the only positives.
