Aberdeen Grammar’s grade 1 cricketers saved the best to last with an enthralling tie in the final game of the against Cults both teams finishing all out for 130.
Grammar knew they needed 10 points to be 100% safe in Grade 1 and after losing the toss and being asked to bat on a juicy pitch at St Margarets, the plan was simple. Unfortunately Team 1 were quickly behind the 8 ball losing Swiergon for 1, Mapplebeck for 6 and Keith run out for 0. At 12/3 things were looking dire, Cults were bowling well and with the pitch offering some assistance and it took some superb concentration from Gill & Desai to begin adding runs to the board. Gill in particular using all of his private school talent to keep the good balls out and score off the bad where he could.
Things were getting better until Gill BBQ’d Desai calling him through for a quick single with Desai being short of his ground by a good 2 feet. Sameer joined Gill and they began to play some shots until Gill was bowled sweeping a straight one, Bedaar joined Sameer but came and went shortly and at 91/6 Grammar’s innings was on a knife edge. With the pitch drying out playing shots became easier and Sameer began to cut loose, his partner at the other end Penman, playing in his last game for Grammar was keen to go out with a flurry alas it was not to be, bowled in similar fashion to Gill trying to sweep a yorker. Nasseri came and went and Grammar’s innings looked cooked, this was until stand in skipper all round nice guy Hassaan joined Sameer and they began to plunder some late order runs, taking full advantage of some poor / questionable throwing they were able to push the score up to the dizzying heights of the 120s. Sameer eventually bowled by T Singh with a lovely inswinger, Poosappadi joined the skipper and nearly spliced his first ball to the keeper (cries of get this man off the field) heard from the boundary. Both nurdled a few until Poosappadi was caught at mid on for 3, Grammar had scored 130.
After some lunch and tea (not tepal unfortunately) and with 7 points in the bag, Grammar knew 3 wickets would keep them in G1 for the 2025 season along with the second team who had been promoted the week before.
Poosappadi opened the bowling but struggled with his own internal demons and was unable to broker a relationship between his feet, the foot holes and a good length to trouble the batsmen. Stand in skipper Hassaan opened from the other end and was bowling tight eventually rewarded with the wicket of I.Basheer, a well taken high catch by Poosappadi right in front of the pearly whites. M.Areeb & I. Niamatullah batted well and struck some good boundaries until Gill did his best flying squirrel impression to remove M.Areeb for 20. T.Singh came, scored 10 runs and then went bowled by Mapplebeck ensuring grade 1 survival.
S.Nazir joined I. Niamatullah briefly before he was stumped by the keeper Desai for 2. A.Jawad joined I. Niamatullah and the pair set about adding some impetus to the Cults innings, working the singles well and scoring boundary’s where they could at the drinks interval at 65/5 the game was in the balance. After drinks Grammar bowled keeping the rate below 3, unfortunately it was the introduction of Sameer which gave Cults renewed hope, his two overs going for 18 in a low scoring game. Bedaar at the other end was toiling away keeping the batsmen in check, stand in skipper acted quickly and bought himself back on but it was the late swing of Bedaar which forced I. Niamatullah into an error, skying one to deep mid-off, Hassaan taking a VERY important catch.
Grammar saw there opening and quickly had a few more, Bedaar having Ajazi caught behind for 2, GS Singh caught Nasseri for 0. A.Jawad knew this was now his rodeo and he guided the incoming batsmen whilst hitting what he could, taking Mapplebeck for 11 in the 38th over giving Cults a clear view of the line. Nasseri who we have barely mentioned bowled 8 good overs keeping everyone in check, he saw out the 39th and left the 40th to the ‘death overs specialist’ Mapplebeck.
A.Jawad took a single first ball and that was the opening, A.Moshin was very well caught at short cover by the skipper next ball and needing 2 to win youngster A.Ahmed walked to the crease. Unable to get bat on ball the first 3 balls, and with 2 required of the last, after some last minute coaching from the square leg umpire he thick edged one past Gill as short point, completed the single to tie the game but a laser throw from skipper Hassaan to Poosappadi who swiftly removed the bails running out Ahmed by half the length of the pitch saw the game end in a tie.
If was a fitting end to a game that ebbed and flowed, both teams had the chance to win it but a game played in good spirits throughout had to end in a tie – right? Both teams ending on the same score and wickets.
That brings an end to a challenging season for the grade 1 team who are happy to go again and be joined by their compatriot’s next season. Special thanks go to Hamish Penman who is relocating over the winter to warmer climates, Grammar & FPs would like to thank you for efforts over the years, a double champion of the highest order and a great club man, all the best.
