AGSFP’s 3rd XI extended cups run, Reid Cup first round defeat, Johnston Rose Bowl first round bye, produced a tough away semi-final against Dunecht.
The previous meeting between the teams a mere 8 days earlier had seen a tight finish, with Dunecht winning by 3 wickets.
The usual pre match ritual of deciding on who to beg to play this week was finished at 11-45 hrs, Uday the last piece of the jigsaw on this occasion. His grateful team mates were Johnston, Norwood, K Ghosh, D’Costa, Guru, Aninda, Shriram, Rahul, Vishal, and playing his first match of the season, Irosh.
More than half the FP’s team had already arrived as the Dunecht batsmen made their way to the middle. FP’s actually won the toss, but their shocked captain made the big mistake of not having a head count just before the start of the 40 over a side game.
Fortunately the Dunecht team are an understanding bunch, and waited patiently for the latecomers. The day was yet again warm and sunny, the pitch flat and the outfield green and soft to snooze on while waiting.
Milne and Donald batted first for Dunecht with Milne’s nemesis D’Costa opening the bowling. D’Costa, with one eye on next term, bowled Milne a friendly ball to get his PE teacher off the mark. That and to see if the batsman could really run with those Robocop pads on or just as suspected, shuffle. The jury is still out.
Vishal obviously found arriving late and having to hurriedly change pitch side not ideal preparation and bowled his most expensive three overs of the season, going for 14 runs. His next three were more like it, with only three runs being scored.
But it was D’Costa who took the first wicket when Donald (16, 1 x 6, 2 x 4) edged a good delivery and keeper Kingshuk comfortably held the catch, Dunecht 33 – 1 off 9 overs.
Next batsman in Merryweather hit first change bowler Rahul’s first delivery to the square leg boundary for four, but with the last ball of his opening over, Merryweather awoke Johnston from his sunshine induced slumbers at cover, forcing the fielder to run in and dive full length to just get his hands under the ball, Merryweather out for 9 (2 x 4) Dunecht 46 – 2 off 13 overs.
Milne and Scott had added 33 runs off 9 overs when Scott hammered a ball to cover where Johnston stuck out a hand and managed to hold on to the ball, Scott on his way to solitary confinement for 9 (1 x 4), Dunecht 79 – 3 off 22.2 overs. Rahul was the bowler again earning another over.
New batsman Derrett was then hit a nasty looking blow to the head while trying to smash a delivery from slow bowler Rahul. After several minutes ‘treatment’, Derrett was able to continue and his by now visibly upset teammates therefore had to return the contents of his kit bag to the rightful, still alive, owner.
Derrett was obviously still affected by the blow, of seeing his team mates appalling behaviour, and sliced a delivery from Rahul straight to Aninda at fly slip, Derrett gone for a duck, his team mates gone for a walk.
Guru was bowling with good control and got his reward when he bowled De Gabrielle for 1, Dunecht 84 – 5 off 25 overs. One or two FP’s wrongly began to dream of a final at Lord’s at this stage, but Dunecht’s Witz took his time and along with Milne set about rebuilding Dunecht’s innings.
Milne then scored fourteen consecutive singles, partly due to good bowling, the slow outfield and those pads, but fortunately for Dunecht, Witz hit a couple of boundaries and a big 6 to keep the scorers awake.
The stand had reached 58 vital runs when Vishal returned to have Witz LBW for 34 (1 x 6, 3 x 4), Dunecht 139 – 5 off 37.4 overs.
Nicol was out also caught by Aninda at fly slip off D’Costa for a duck and Roberts ended 4 n.o. as Dunecht reached 155 – 7 off their allotted 40 overs. Opener Milne carried his bat scoring a very well-constructed 62 n.o. (1 x 6, 7 x 4).
The total was under 4 an over, but FP’s request to have the outfield cut during tea was rejected, so it was actually worth over 4 an over.
Bowling figures for FP’s Rahul 10 – 1 – 45 – 3. D’Costa 10 – 1 – 48 – 2, Guru 10 – 1 – 23 – 1, Vishal 10 – 1 – 31 – 1. Rahul was the pick of the bowlers, using flight and variation of pace to good effect. Keeper Kingshuk made some good legside stops to save vital runs, and FP’s fielding was keen despite the heat.
A pleasant tea was being taken when Norwood and Kingshuk were told to stop eating first and get padded up. Norwood was obviously still a bit peckish as he immediately nibbled at a delivery from Roberts giving Witz an easy catch, FP’s 0 – 1. Next over Kingshuk was bowled by Burnett, FP’s 1 – 2. Next over D’Costa was bowled by Roberts, FP’s 1 – 3. Next over nobody was bowled and FP’s doubled their total to 2.
Guru and Aninda then put together a good stand of 57 runs in 15 overs, shot wise taking no chances, running between the wicket wise…
Aninda was out bowled by Derrett for 8, FP’s 58 – 4. Guru had batted with good patience, partly due to the Dunecht fielders retreating to the boundary, but after showing remarkable restraint, Guru had a rush of blood and was out stumped by Witz off Lumsden the Loopy. Guru scoring 43 (2 x 6, 2 x 4), FP’s suddenly 58 – 5 off 19.2 overs.
Much undervalued Dunecht skipper Burnett returned and bowled, quote, “an unplayable delivery” to Johnston who was bowled for 3, FP’s 65 – 6. Lumsden then tempted Shri out of his crease and Witz again did the rest, FP’s now struggling at 69 – 7 off 23.4 overs.
Irosh was joined at the crease by Vishal, who was struggling with a shoulder injury. The required run rate was still under 5 an over and the batsmen batted carefully against slow bowler Lumsden and a mixture of bowlers as Dunecht tried to confuse everyone with various bowling changes and permutations.
The fielding side were aided by Milne’s familiar sounding shouts of encouragement as they reverberated around the ground. Perhaps it was the previous FP’s match’s comments bouncing back off the stratosphere. Again.
Vishal hit a couple of welcome boundaries and Irosh played a couple of cheeky reverse sweeps as the score mounted. A vital 28 runs were raised when Irosh was run out by some distance, then Uday was bowled by Derrett, who by now was running back to his mark in an attempt to get the game finished before bed time. FP’s looking down and out on 100 – 9.
But cometh the hour cometh the cool dude. Number 11 batsman Rahul then played some great unorthodox shots all round the wicket and with Vishal pushed Dunecht to breaking point.
Dunecht were setting a new record for time taken per over as all their team was consulted, insulted, moved, removed, shuffled, shovelled, and forced to the limits of endurance in an effort to stop FP’s getting home, before dawn.
Rahul and Vishal brought FP’s to within four scoring shots and a wide from victory when Rahul, obviously distracted by the gas lamps being lit in the pavillion, was bowled by fellow slow bowler Lumsden for 20 (2 x 4), FP’s brave fight ending on 132 off 37 overs, 25 runs short, Vishal was 22 n.o. (2 x 4).
Wicket takers for Dunecht, Lumsden 4 – 44, Roberts 2 – 21, , Burnett 2 – 23, Derrett 1 – 22 .
This match was not an epic match, epic matches take only 6 hours. But it was an exciting match played in great spirit and 3rd FP’s wish Dunecht all the best for the Johnston Rose Bowl final. Unfortunately, FP’s 2nds are through to the Reid Cup final on the same day, but Dunecht can be sure of a good turnout of interested 3rd FP’s spectators for day 2 of their 40 over final.
Man of the Match – Rahul, bowled very well, fielded well, almost batted FP’s to a cup final
Champagne Moment – Johnston’s second catch off Rahul got the vote
