There were only four changes to the Grammar FP’s 2nd XI team which had beaten Crescent the previous week. Off to the Test Match in Birmingham, as spectators, went Ben Frizzell and Mike Blues, seam (across his knee) bowler Doug Russell was working and Ian Goodenough was unavailable. Returning to the team were Rizwan, injured all rounder Vijay played as emergency wicketkeeper, Melvin Joy returned from holiday in India, and Aly MacDonald was rested from the 1stXI.
FP’s lost the toss and were asked to bat first by SDQX skipper Andy Rayner. As usual there were late comers for FP’s, one of whom even had a genuine excuse. But the player due to bat at number 4 arrived 20 minutes after the start with no excuse and was put to shame by a team mate who had texted at 12:20pm to say he had just woken up, but still managed to show up on time. Fortunately for the texter, FP’s had to bat first and so he quietly retired to the café for a brunch consisting of “a plate of the greasiest food you have, please”.
Meanwhile out in the middle just before the game actually started, one of the SDQX youngsters wondered up to the square leg umpire and asked where the square leg fielding position was. With the FP’s skipper having set SDQX‘s field, play commenced.
The first ball of the lost fielder’s first game became his first catch off the first ball of his first game as Rob Fryer lobbed a gentle catch to the 11 year old, who had been so carefully positioned at square leg, FP’s 0-1 off 0-1. This fielding position now known as Fryers Dolly Folly.
Fortunately batsmen Rama and Vijay were in good form and scored at a steady pace against good bowling from opening bowlers Rayner and Barron. The wicket was damp and slow, but the batsmen batted with good wet wicket restraint, sensibly playing each ball on merit. Soon after the FP’s 12thman had brought out Rama’s spiked boots, the FP’s opener played his best shot of the innings, a drive over mid on for 6.
Vijay punished anything down leg-side with several boundaries and an effortless pull for 6. Vijay reached his 50 with a powerful pull for four, and in the process finally persuaded a couple with toddler to move over the boundary out of harms way.
Rama had just passed his best score of the season when he was bowled by Moir, scoring 45 (3 x 6, 2 x 4) in a great stand of 106. Vijay was out soon after for 50 (1 x 6, 7 x 4) given out LBW to Rayner, who had returned for a second spell, an excellent first fifty for FP’s.
MacDonald innings lasted a shorter time than his earlier tardiness, out bowled by Rayner for 3, FP’s 115 – 4 off 29 overs. Johnston was bowled soon after for a duck having failed to decide which shot to play to a straight ball from Moir, FP’s now struggling on 125 – 6.
Karthik and Whyte had added 16 runs when Kieran Whyte was bowled by a shooter from Rayner, FP’s 141 – 6. Karthik had just smashed Rayner for 12 runs in an over, but Rayner had his revenge when Karthik was out caught for 22, FP’s 141 – 7.
Rizwan came in for only his 3rdgame of the season and got off the mark with a lovely boundary. But he was soon run out in a mix up with Milne, out for 7, FP’s 154 – 8 off 40 overs.
Fortunately Milne carried on his form from his previous match, again playing a sensible innings and scored a match turning 22 n.o. (2 x 4) and had played his part in a rapid partnership of 38 with Melvin Joy. Playing only his 2ndgame of the season, Joy immediately showed what a non cricketing holiday in India does for you when he blasted a quick 16 (1 x 6, 2 x 4) including probably the shot of the match with a lovely stroked straight 6. Milne and Joy added 23 in 2 overs allowing FP’s to declare on 192 – 8 off 45 overs.
Top bowlers for SDQX were Rayner with 4 – 34, Moir with 2 – 37 and young Al Mamun who bowled better than his figures suggested.
Last week’s top bowler for FP’s Whyte opened the attack and bowled fast and straight, but could not find a way through Moir and Rayners’s defence. Whyte’s excellent opening spell of 8 – 3 – 15 – 0 deserved more, Karthik also had no luck, bowling 5 – 1 – 16 – 0. FP’s had a couple of chances to break the opening partnership with a run out and catch being missed by over exuberance on the fielder’s part.
But the breakthrough finally came in the 2ndover from new bowler Magesh, who cleverly tempted Moir to play an attacking shot straight to Whyte at wide mid on, who judged the catch well. SDQX 51 – 1 off 19 overs.
Not-slow-enough slow bowler Magesh was unlucky to be called for fast bowlers waist high no ball which cost him a caught and bowled from Rayner, but got the better of Rayner soon after, bowling him for 38 ( 1 x 6, 5 x 4).
SDQX were failing to score quickly enough against some tight FP’s bowling, with new bowler Rizwan immediately finding his line and length. SDQX were battling well, but Rizwan produced a jaffa to bowl Rodgers for 15, SDQX 92 – 3, and then had Milne plumb LBW for 8, SDQX 100 – 4. FP’s were desperate for another breakthrough and brought opening bowler Whyte back on to bowl. But despite the FP’s bowlers best efforts, SDQX held out until the 44th over when Karthik had Macpherson caught by Rizwan for 15, SDQX 124 – 5.
The FP’s bowlers bowled well, forcing SDQX batsmen to be on the defensive for most of their innings and the game ended in a tame draw with SDQX score 132 – 5 off 45 overs. The FP’s bowling attack was thwarted this week by some good batting technique from SDQX.
Best of the FP’s bowling were Whyte 12 – 6 – 23 – (0 hangover) 0 wickets, Magesh 9 – 3 – 26 – 2 and Karthik 8 – 1 – 31 – 1.
Man of the Match – Vijay, top scorer with 54.
Champagne Moment – 11 year old Davidson’s catch. A first catch he won’t forget, and one Fryer probably won’t be allowed to forget.