Grammar FP’s 2nd XI claimed the 2014 Grade 3 title with a comprehensive nine wicket victory over Mannofield 2nd XI at Rubislaw.
The line-up for FP’s was as follows:
Magesh Devendran (c), Matt Barker (vc), Arun Kumar Chithambaram, Chris Clelland (wkt), Guru Thangamani, Jim Lee, John Eagles, John Youles, Kieran Whyte, Mahesh Narayanan, Rama Mantha.
The ever dependable Devendran won the toss and opted to field, trusting in his vaunted bowling attack to clean up the opposition for a low score.
Whyte and Narayanan opened, both swinging the ball but finding the cross-wind testing. Narayanan was the first to strike, clean bowling both opening batsmen, Natras and Herd, in consecutive overs to reduce Mannofield to 14/2 after 8 overs.
Whyte was next to pick up a wicket, dislodging Brereton with a beautiful outswinger which caught the edge and sailed through to Thangamani at gully where he calmly pouched it. The score 23/3 after 11.
Mannofield rallied slightly to put on 12 for the next wicket before the partnership was broken by Devendran who tempted Alawattage (I am dubious about the spelling of this name) into skying one to the in-rushing Whyte at deep mid-on who took a great catch.
Sweeney hit a couple of boundaries but was bowled by Whyte in the next over, his ball just clipping the bail off the top of off-stump to reduce Mannofield to 42/5 in the 18th.
The writing was on the wall for Mannofield by this point and the remaining wickets fell in quick succession. Zanie was bowled by Eagles after dancing down the wicket; Mian stumped by Chalkie, also trying to dance with Eagles; Lumsden given LBW to Eagles, decidedly not dancing anywhere.
This left the two youngest members of the Mannofield team, the Elliot Brothers, to show the rest how it was done. The younger Elliot played some lovely straight batted shots and was well applauded by both teams until Devendran decided to spoil the party, inducing the young lad to chip one to Barker at short cover to end the innings. Mannofield all out for 58.
With only 25 overs bowled by FP’s the decision was made to bat straight away and take tea afterwards. Clelland and Barker took to the middle, Clelland to face.
Despite looking in good knick and cutting a lovely boundary in the first over, Clelland was deceived by Brereton’s first ball which pitched and straightened to take out his off-stump leaving the score 13/1 in the 2nd.
After this early scare FP’s knuckled down to business, Narayanan joined Barker in the middle and the pair proceeded to knock off the remaining runs inside 7 overs. Barker finished on 27 not out (5 x 4), Narayanan on 23 (2 x 4). As Barker hit the winning boundary to clinch the league title he turned to the pavilion arms aloft to find his Captain off on a beer run, the scorers arguing over whether the score was correct and his remaining team-mates inside setting up tea. Obviously the big celebration is being saved for next weekend’s Reid Cup Final!
The game was won with the same dedication and skill shown throughout the season with everyone contributing in the field, backing up the talented bowling attack. Much credit must go to Captain Devendran whose dedication and leadership made a big difference over the course of the season.
Next up the Reid Cup Final against Portcullis at Duthie Park.
MOM – Mahesh Narayanan, for his contribution with both bat and ball.
Champagne Moment – Barker securing the league title with a leg-side (surprise surprise) boundary.
