AGSFP’s 3rd XI selected the following players to play in the Grade 3 match at Turriff, Johnston, Siddarth Shetty, Satya Chowdary, Aninda Das, Guru Thangamani, Melvin Joy, Diago Maradona, Shriram Balasubramani, Sohaib Rehman, Saravana Kumar, Vishal Desai
Turriff won the toss and decided to bat first on a very flat but also very mossy wicket, with the outfield a bit uneven. The weather was bright but a strong wind blew across the wicket.
FP’s began the match with only 10 players as Vishal was delayed, so newcomer Sohail was given the honour of opening the bowling. He started well with a maiden and then gave away only 2 runs in his next over. However opener Smart had been threatening to cut loose and duly did so in Sohaibs 3rd over as he blasted 2 fours and a six as Sohaib lost his line and length. At the other end, Siddarth (Sid) was bowling a tight line and length, tying down opener Chalmers and keeping the hard hitting Smart quiet. Sid took a well-deserved wicket in the 8th over when Chalmers edged a rising ball behind where wicketkeeper Joy took the catch, Turriff 27 – 1.
New batsman Kola was another batsman who gave the ball an almighty thump, hitting over the top whenever the ball was there to drive, but was fortunate to have the ball land in space between fielders on a couple of occasions. Sid was also unlucky with a couple of tight LBW appeals.
FP’s took a needed 2nd wicket when Johnston managed to hold onto an awkward one handed catch diving to his left at cover to dismiss the aggressive Smart for 36 (1 x 6, 5 x 4), Turriff 59 – 2 off 13.2 overs.
A lively 3rd wicket partnership of 35 between Kola and Mirashi was ended by Shri when he had Mirashi as LBW as it gets for 8 (2 x 4) while trying to sweep a full length delivery, Turriff 94 – 3 off 20.5 overs.
Vishal had arrived and served his time punishment and was brought on to bowl, conceding only 4 runs in his first 3 overs. In his next over Kola hit him for a six, but next ball attempting a repeat, merely gave Sohaib some easy catching practice at mid on, out for 47 (3 x 6, 2 x 4), Turriff 113 – 4.
D. Duncan hit his first ball for a beautifully timed shot through mid wicket for 4, the umpire saying he had never seen him play that shot before, then hit his next ball for four also. Vishal had his revenge in the action packed over next ball, when Sid held onto a missile of a shot, fortunately waist height and straight into his hands. The batsman later admitted he was relieved Sid had held it, otherwise it could have been a bit messy. Turriff 121 – 5 off 26 overs.
Shriram struck in the next over courtesy of a stunning one handed diving catch low to his left by Guru at gully, D. Laing the unfortunate batsman, out for a duck, Turriff 124 – 6.
Next over new bowler Sara had I. Doss out caught again by Sid for 8 (1 x 4), again at mid wicket, this time the ball was visible through the air, Turriff 126 – 7.
The Turriff collapse continued as Peters was caught by Guru off Vishal without scoring 126 – 8. B. Balmont had a swing and a hit at Sara, hitting him for 6 over Turra coo corner, before being bowled and two balls later R. Jacques was out hit wicket bowled Sara, Turriff all out 134 in 31 overs.
FP’s bowling, apart from a couple of overs, was an improvement from the previous week, and the fielding was again very good with only a couple of catches being dropped and keeper Joy giving away only 1 bye.
Sara produced the best bowling figures, 2 – 0 – 9 – 3, Vishal made a difference when he came on 6 – 2 – 18 – 3, Sid again bowled well 7 – 2 – 17 – 2, Shri bowled consistently 6 – 0 – 28 – 2. It was good to see the scorebook was very well kept by the Turriff team.
FP’s opened the batting with Sid and Satya but there was early controversy when a very loud appeal for caught behind was turned down. Things threatened to get out of hand for a couple of overs until Satya was dismissed LBW for 1 off Laing, FP’s 9 -1 off 3.5 overs. The match got worse for FP’s next over when Sid, having lost concentration due to the unnecessary verbal distractions, went for a big drive off the impressive Mirashi and was bowled for 7, FP’s 9 – 2.
Two balls later Guru was also bowled by the in swinging Mirashi, and FP’s were suddenly 9 – 3 off 5 overs. Debutant Aninda playing his first match in Scotland was happy to survive as the ball suddenly started rearing off a length, the wicket starting to look like a golf fairway with a divet being lifted by almost every ball.
Aninda and Joy played calmly for a while until Joy hit Doss for a 6, but two balls later tried to repeat the shot, only to be caught for 10 (1 x 6), FP’s 19 – 4 off 10 overs.
Shri was next batsman to be dismissed, bowled by Mirashi for 1, then Diago soon followed caught off Doss also for 1, FP’s now 20 – 6. The wicket had changed dramatically in an hour, with balls trampolining off good a length.
Aninda was next out, again for 1, but debutant Shoaib decided the best form of defence was attack, hitting Doss for a big 6, then a 4. His luck ran out three balls later and he was out for 10 (1 x 6, 1 x 4).
Sara was out LBW to Smart for 2 and the FP’s poor batting display was complete when Johnston was bowled while attempting a swat at another ball which pitched, rose sharply but slowly and then fell onto the stumps, Johnston out for 8, Vishal not out 0, FP’s all out for a paltry 53.
For Turriff, Mirashi bowled beautifully 8 – 3 – 7 – 3, Doss 5 – 0 – 17 – 3, Smart 2 – 0 – 3 – 1
FP’s should have been well placed to chase 134 off 59 overs, but got off to a bad start and did not look like recovering. Inexperienced batsmen never having batted on such a wicket did not help, neither did the Turriff complete over-reaction to having a decision go against them. Several FP’s batsmen got out to poor shots, but the next match is on an artificial wicket which should play a bit more consistently.
Champagne Moment – Guru’s swallow dive-catch at gully
Man of the Match – Mirashi’s 3-7 put FP’s batting under pressure from the start