The 2011 Grade 3 season for AGSFP’s 2nd XI began with a visit to old rivals Gordonians at Countesswells. FP’s 2nd XI had struggled to get a team together, but despite 14 players being unavailable, fielded a full team, including three debutants in Sandeep, Shriram and schoolboy Andy Milne. Grammar won the toss and asked a strong looking Gordonians side to bat first.
The weather was just about as good as it gets for April, the outfield was dry and the grass short. The first ball of the season from Karthik was also just about as good as it gets, bowling dangerman Butt with a great yorker, Gordonans 0-1. New batsman Sharam immediately went for his shots, and was lucky to survive several edges which flew just wide of FP’s fielders. Sharam continued to play attacking shots and could have been out at any time time as the ball landed in various parts of the outfield.
The score had rapidly moved on to 48 in 7 overs when Magesh bowled opener Devlin for 8. Magesh struck again next over when Tasmeet was also bowled for 7, and then completed three batsmen bowled in three overs hat trick when he bowled dangerman Sharam for 34 (8 x 4), Gordonians total 58 – 4.
Karthik had bowled well but without too much luck, the combination of Sharam’s arial shots finding space and the fast outfield spoiled his bowling figures, 6 – 0 – 48 – 1.
FP’s went for spin from both ends with John Davey replacing Karthik. Runs continued at a steady pace, but Davey took his first wicket when keeper Tom Booth held on to a thin edge off Dhanraj, score 92 – 5 off 18 overs.
Magesh was give a well deserved rest after bowling a very tight spell, 8 – 1 – 17 – 3, and Rizwan came on to bowl from the Pavillion End. Rizwan, as usual, struck in his first over when Neil drove straight to mid on where Magesh held onto a comfortable catch, score 114 – 6 off 23 overs.
Experienced batsman Thompson was content to score mainly in singles as Mathj looked to attack the bowling. But Mathj was soon out for 17 (4 x 4) when Davey did very well to hold on to a powerful drive above his head at cover off Rizwan, score 139 – 7. Batsman Viji was then bowled by Davey without scoring, score 141 – 8.
With keeper Booth standing up, Rizwan’s accurate bowling was proving very difficult to score off. The pressure told when Thompson lifted his back foot off the ground, and was brilliantly stumped by Booth for 35, the alert square leg umpire declining the invitation to change his mind. Gordonians score 163 – 9.
Tarun came in and looked to score off every ball, but was soon out for 7 when keeper Booth made a very tricky skier look easy, eventually taking the catch at point.
Gordonians all out 165 off 35.4 overs. Rizwan finished with 10 – 1 – 24 – 4, Davey 11 – 0 – 62 – 2, debutant Shriram 1 – 0 – 2 – 0
This was an excellent bowling and fielding performance by Grammar. Although the fast outfield meant a good scoring rate, wickets fell at regular intervals with Rizwan and Magesh bowling beautifully in their first bowl of the season. Gordonians used only 36 overs leaving FP’s 54 overs to score the required 166 runs.
But in reply FP’s got off to the worst possible start when Fryer was bowled off his legs in the first over fromThompson, and soon after Frizzell was also dismissed for a duck, caught behind off a glove. Frizzel, not realising the umpire had not heard anything, did not hang about and immediately walked off in keeping with the Spirit of the Game. An excellent example for the young and not so young playing. FP’s 0-2.
New batsmen Booth and Davey dug in and resisted some good accurate pace bowling, as usual frustrating the bowlers by pinching quick singles, and began finding the boundary with good shots. Just as the fielding side were quietening down, Booth was out caught and bowled by Thompson for 13, FP’s 27 – 3.
New batsman Karthik was playing in his usual unorthodox but always run scoring manner, and soon proved to be a great foil to the stylish driving of Davey.
Runs came steadily and the fourth wicket partnership was worth almost half the Gordonians total runs when Karthik was out LBW to Sharam for 27 (3 x 4) in a great stand of 83.
Rizwan immediately looked in good form taking 10 off an over from Thompson, including a lovely wristy glance off his hips for four. The fifth wicket partnership added a quick 16 when Rizwan was out LBW to Nair, for 11 (2 x 4), score 126 – 5. Two balls later Gordonians were right back in the match when Davey was smartly stumped by Butt, and FP’s 126 – 6. Davey top scoring in the match with 60 (8 x 4) playing with good technique in defence and at times rode his luck while hitting some great attacking shots all round the wicket.
New batsmen Johnston and debutant Sandeep knew there were plenty of overs to score the required runs, and also that opening bowler Thompson had only four overs remaining. Thompson and opening partner Tarun were frustrated by the FP’s batsmen who were happy to allow the score to rise mainly in extras. The seventh wicket had added only 7 runs, but Sandeep had defended well during his seven over stay, before being bowled by Tarun for 3, FP’s 133 – 7.
Debutant schoolboy Milne was next to bat and survived a baptism of fire from Thompson and Tarun, defending well as the score crept towards the winning total. In Thompson’s last over Milne played a cut shot through gully, the ball racing away for four.
Thompson was replaced by Nair, who was immediately driven for two boundaries by Johnston to relieve the pressure. FP’s were only four runs short of victory when Johnston was bowled by Sharum for 12 (2 x 4), the 8th wicket stand worth 30 runs.
Another FP’s debutant Shriram blocked his first ball but next ball put Gordos out of their misery when he despatched Sharam over cover for four to give FP’s a well deserved victory. Inexperienced batsman Milne finished 5 not out, surviving a tense finish with good composure.
FP’s winning total 167 – 8 off 45.4 overs.
This was the perfect start to the season for Grammar who outplayed a strong Gordonians side on their home ground. FP’s also picked up some very useful tips how to bat and umpire from a vocal Gordonians side.
Man of the Match – John Davey, two wickets (bit pricey though), excellent catch and match winning innings
Champagne Moment – Shriram’s winning shot for four.