Scotland could solve it’s energy problem for years by installing wind turbines at Sheddocksley. But then, where would the council find pitches for the Grades to play cricket each ‘summer’? Sheddocksley, the land that Global Warming forgot, home ground of Knightriders, and venue for the Reid Cup 40 over match against Grammar FP’s.
FP’s made no fewer than 9 changes to the team which beat Ellon 2nds the previous day. Rama and the man with the sore head Shriram were the only two who played against Ellon, and were joined by Johnston, Geoff Morrison, Pehlaj, Paul MacDonald, Roland Knudson, Tom Booth, with Tom Murray and Melvin Joy playing their first game of the season and Paul Norwood making his FP’s debut.
FP’s won the toss and invited KR to bat on a very windy but cloudy, no sunny, no cloudy afternoon.
Booth and Joy opened the bowling for FP’s and KR batsmen played and missed and hit shots over fielders as KR went for their shots. Joy struck first when Hari played on, KR 29 – 1.
Balaji and Rajith were scoring quickly, but after 8.5 overs, play was suspended due to a severe hailstone shower. One FP’s player showed great team spirit by leaving his team mates out in the storm and sheltered under the groundsheet protecting the KR kit. At one stage it seemed like the Italian seismologist’s prophecy that the world was going to end this weekend was actually happening. The noise the hailstones made while I was sheltering under that groundsheet was deafening, but not loud enough to drown out the screams of those stranded outside.
Once the storm passed, Booth finished his over and slid a yard, Balaji smacked the ball to the point boundary. The crease clearly too slippery for bowlers without spikes, the newly spread topsoil had been transformed into a mudbath, any bowler or batsman wearing trainers were in danger of developing trench foot.
Rama replaced Joy, but was also bowling without spikes, and slipping in the mud, so had in turn to be replaced by a bowler with spikes, er, the in form, Morrison. The continual reminding of his hat trick in the 20/20 league had paid dividends, and Morrison was given the chance to shine. He bowled some great deliveries, and some too short. But he was unlucky not to get a wicket when a fielder who cannot be named because a super injunction has since been taken out due to the fact he dropped a dolly (catch in this instance, not bird) and my lips are sealed. Unlike my hands.
Knudson bowled his allotted spell straight through, having the aggressive Balaji brilliantly caught by Booth on the mid wicket boundary, just, for 57(1 x 6, 7 x 4), and the equally aggressive Rajith given LBW for 58 ( 3 x 6, 7 x 4) After 30 overs KR were 174 – 3.
The gale force wind meant that the bails were left off the stumps which were swaying in the breeze, and helicopters flying overhead were flying sideways. A quiet day at The Shed. FP’s MacDonald said after the game that the conditions were the most miserable he had felt on a cricket field.
KR were playing some great shots, and Kannan hit a skier straight at Rama on the mid wicket boundary. Rama the Relaxed made so little fuss that the batsman made a polite enquiry to confirm Rama was not over the boundary. FP’s miserable Yorkshireman MacDonald confirmed the catch was good.
Runs were coming thick and fast as KR continued to hit out at everything, but Joy returned to have Manas out LBW for 23 (1 x 6, 2 x 4), then did very well to catch Selva off his own bowling for 6 (1 x 4) Booth also returned to the attack, bowling Nisad for 47(1 x 6, 8 x 4).
KR scored quickly all through their innings scoring a daunting 270 – 8. FP’s bowlers had a difficult time of it, due to the gale force wind, muddy crease and wet ball, Joy top bowler with 3 – 55.
Following a good tea, Rama and Morrison opened the batting for FP’s. Although Prashanth and Mohan were difficult to get away, Morrison scored some good boundaries off his legs and through point, and Rama also hit an early boundary.
But in the eighth over with the score on 31, Rama gloved a ball down the legside and sportingly walked, FP’s 31 – 1. Booth and Morrison were scoring at a good rate, and the score had progressed to 70 off 15 overs.
At this stage KR decided to have a team huddle, it was not clear whether it was for warmth or to discuss tactics, but whatever it was it worked, as next ball Morrison was brilliantly caught and bowled by a diving Manas, who held on to the much harder of two caught and bowled chances offered by Morrison. FP’s 68 – 2 off16 overs.
New batsman MacDonald capped an enjoyable day when he was bowled by a great legstump yorker in Manas’s following over for 1, FP’s 74 – 3.
Booth’s first five scoring shots were excellent boundaries as he attempted to keep FP’s in the game. He also hit a lovely six off his hips, and soon after drove a ball over cover for another massive six.
Booth survived a loud appeal for caught behind, but soon after was very well caught at deep cover attempting to clear the boundary again. Booth made 67 (2 x 6, 10 x 4)and with his dismissal ended FP’s faint hopes of a victory.
Pehlaj hit a nice boundary, but was soon bowled by Nishad for 10, and Norwood was caught behind without scoring. Knudson was batting in seven layers but managed to free his arms enough to hit a six a four before he was bowled by Mohan for 11.
Murray smacked a couple of fours in his 11, Shriram was bowled for 6, FP’s now looking a well beaten, browbeaten, weatherbeaten side.
Joy hit a couple of nice boundaries, and KR brought on Ronaldinho look alike Balayi to bowl the last over. Seeing Ronaldihno coming on to bowl at Sheddocksley obviously confused Joy as he played no shot to a straight ball which dropped onto the wickets., and the game was over. Johnston carrying his bat, 0 n.o. FP’s 170 all out.
Knightriders thoroughly deserved their victory having outbatted and outbowled FP’s.
Everyone was happy to be put out of their misery when this long, cold game of 510 balls ended, not that I was counting.
Man of the Match – Tom Booth, brilliant 67, 2 wickets, great catch on boundary.
Champagne Moment – Booth’s six over cover, way over cover.