Grammar 2nd XI had to make five changes from the Dunecht game to face visitors Banchory 2nd XI. Into the team for Sandeep, Paul Norwood, Kieran Whyte, Rob Fryer and Ian Goodenough came John Davey, Melvin Joy, Karthik and Doug Russell with Harry Houghton playing his first game of the season.
Banchory captain Hicks failed to notice the two headed coin and Banchory were asked to bat first on a sunny day at Rubislaw. The Grammar team had been advised to turn up on time or any latecomers would find themselves batting last. The first victims of the strict new disciplinary code were Karthik and Doug Russell.
After last week’s star performance with the ball, Vijay opened the bowling from the Cromwell Road End and continued his good form with a sharp maiden over. Mike Blues bowled from the Pavillion End, giving away only a single in each of his first two overs.
The tight bowling continued, and although Virk hit a four off Vijay, he was well caught two balls later by Melvin Joy at deepish mid off for 11 runs, Banchory 21 – 1 off 7 overs.
Batsmen Hicks and Sharma were then given few chances to score as Vijay and Blues bowled the next 7 overs for only 8 runs, Blues was unlucky not to take a wicket during his excellent spell of 7 – 1 – 11 – 0.
John Davey replaced Blues and took a wicket with his 4th ball when Sharma went back and across to a straight delivery and was out LBW for 8 runs, Banchory 37 – 2 off 16 overs.
Karthik then replaced Vijay who had bowled with good pace, moving the ball off the seam during his spell of 8 – 3 – 25 – 1. But it was Davey who took the third Banchory wicket, having Hicks out LBW for 27 (3 x 4). Hicks had batted with patience, but always looked to score off the occasional bad ball, Banchory 54 – 2 off 22 overs.
Asad and Wilkinson batted carefully adding 39 runs in 11 overs and it took a brilliant low catch at first slip by Harry Houghton off a great away swinging ball by Karthik to dismiss Asad for a well played 19 (2 x 4) Banchory 93 – 4 off 33 overs. The batsman looked surprised by the catch, prior to last season slip catching by Houghton, FP’s would also have been calling for a TV replay.
Davey had bowled well extracting some spin off the artifical wicket and deserved his two wickets, bowling 9 – 2 – 26 – 2 . Magesh replaced Davey and bowled an accurate spell of 5 – 1 – 12 – 0.
Karthik had accidentally struck Wilkinson with a chest high full toss, but Wilkinson got his own back when Karthik decided to use his shins to stop a powerful pull by Wilkinson at square leg. Wilkinson was taking advantage of some leg side deliveries and upped the scoring rate as batsmen fell at the other end. Karthik dismissed Jason caught behind by keeper Pehlaj down the leg side, the batsman sportingly walking, Banchory 98 – 5.
Karthik had bowled 10 – 5 – 27 – 2, a mixture of excellent swing bowling and frustrating swing bowling as Wilkinson picked off balls which swung down the legside.
Scottish Under 15 Internationalist Critchley kept an end going while Wilkinson went for runs, the 6th wicket adding a valuable 22 runs before Vijay (10 – 3 – 40 – 2) returned to beat Critchley for pace, bowling him for a single, Banchory 120 – 6.
New batsman Donnelly kept out the FP’s bowlers while 20 runs were added during the last 4 overs. Top scorer Wilkinson finished not out 44 (4 x 4) using all his experience to retain the strike and score off anything loose, especially down the leg side. Banchory final score which was sportingly revised to 140 – 6 off 46 overs following a revue of the scorebooks.
For FP’s wicket takers were Vijay, Davey and Karthik with 2 each, Russell bowled 0 – 8 and Joy 0 – 12 in short spells. The FP’s bowling was generally tight and no catches were dropped.
FP’s opened their innings with Rama and Pehlaj and found runs hard to come by as Critchley and Hicks bowled accurately. Pehlaj had just hit his first four when he was out LBW to Critchley for 9, FP’s 20 – 1 off 9 overs.
Davey and Rama batted well against good bowling, adding 36 runs in 7 overs keeping FP’s up with the required scoring rate. Rama hit a couple of great straight drives, but was out bowled by Sharma for 26 (3 x 4), FP’s 56 – 2 off 16 overs.
Blues was promoted to number 4 and went about scoring in a calm manner as he and Davey added 33 runs in 12 overs, Sharma and Virk both bowling consistently well, with few loose balls to score off. The Banchory fielding was sharp, and young Critchley impressed with his returns from the boundaries.
Virk had just beaten Davey three times in an over before Davey played on, bowled for 34 runs, stroking four great drives for four and had several more cut off just inside the boundary, FP’s 89 – 3 off 29 overs.
The scoring rate had slowed up due to the accurate bowling and Vijay was out for 9 caught while playing an attacking shot, FP’s 113 – 4 off 37 overs.
Next over Wilkinson defied the years and took a fantastic diving one handed caught and bowled to dismiss Joy for 1, FP’s 113 – 5. Things looked bad for FP’s two overs later as Blue’s patient innings came to an end when Virk took a great catch off Wilkinson, Blues out for 26 FP’s now 116 – 6, requiring 24 runs off 4 overs.
Johnston was then not out caught in the gully by Donnelly off what turned out to be the first ball of Virk’s 13th over of the allowed 12 over spell. Hicks replaced Virk and Johnston and Houghton scored 6 runs off the 41st over.
But with the 3rd ball of 42nd over bowled by Wilkinsons, Johnston was out bowled off a bottom edge while advancing down the wicket, FP’s still requiring 18 runs off 15 balls. Banchory were now looking at an unexpected victory with “just the tail enders to come!”
But, as the captain trudged back to the pavillion, cometh the hour, cometh the latecomer with Karthik being promoted from the naughty step by Magesh who was due in ahead of Karthik. This ‘executive decision’ went against all the rules, but all was forgiven as Karthik launched Wilkinson for two great boundaries and a single off the remaining three balls of the 42ndover to shatter Banchory.
Next over with 9 required off 12 balls tension mounted as Hicks bowled two dot balls, but the third ball was a high full toss which Karthik hooked for a magnificent 6, and next ball two byes were run to give Grammar victory by 3 wickets with a comfortable eight balls to go.
Top wicket takers for Banchory, Wilkinson with 3 – 37 and Virk 2 – 35.
A thrilling finish which went the way of Grammar in what had been an evenly contested match played in good spirit throughout. This was FP’s second victory against Banchory this season, the first match being an equally exciting and friendly match which was sportingly decided, much to Banchory’s credit, by a run out in the last over.
Man of the Match – John Davey, top scorer, two wickets and fielded well.
Champagne Moment – Karthik’s 6 which decided the game.