There was no shortage of batsmen willing to play for AGSFP’s 2nd XI this week as reports of a new batsman friendly scoring system went viral. This misinterpretation of the report led to a record number of hits on the FP’s website, unfortunately many more hits than rumoured runs.
On the walk out to the toss on Saturday at Countesswells across the fast, well trimmed outfield there was no discussion of reducing the runs per boundary to a bowler friendly 2. Dream on.
The toss was won again by FP’s and Arrowdawn Gordonians skipper Jones was asked to bat first. The removal of the covers had revealed a firm straw coloured pitch, the detailed inspection indicating to the trained eye that it would play the way it would play.
FP’s had made 4 (8) changes to the team which lost in slightly unusual circumstances the previous week to Knightriders, out went Arul,Norwood, Whyte and Sandeep. Schoolboy David Blues was joined in the team by fellow inmate Jesten D’Costa and Aaron McLeod returned to the fold. John Eagles had survived a late fitness test by electrocution, his coffee maker yet another problem for his to captain to sort out, but not as shocking as his earlier bookies, booze and birds revelations. The rest of the team read Johnston, Rama, Rizwan, wicketkeeper Joy, Kiran, Magesh and Rahul.
The overhead conditions were damp and the underfoot conditions were wet. Kiran and all rounder Rizwan opened the bowling for FP’s. Opening batsmen for Gordonians Yathagoda and Louden were looking to attack anything loose and the score after 12 overs was 54 – 0. There were several near misses in the field, but FP’s made the overdue breakthrough in the 14th over when Rahul held onto a tricky catch at square leg off Rizwan to dismiss Yathagoda for 36 (1 x 6, 4 x 4), Gordonians 55 – 1.
FP’s gained a bonus wicket 6 overs later when a mix up between new batsman Narula and Louden left Louden stranded as Blues sent in an excellent throw from wide mid off, and Magesh calmly removed the bails, Gordonians 67 – 2 off 19.3 overs.
Eagles had replaced Kiran and after tying down the batsmen with some well flighted deliveries, eventually new batsman Aggawal had had enough and had a swing and was bowled for no score, Gordonians 70 – 3.
Magesh and Eagles were bringing the scoring rate down rapidly with some excellent bowling and only 22 runs came from 12 overs before Eagles was rested and Blues was given a bowl.
Gordonians batsman Narula was batting well, hitting several boundaries across the saturated outfield. He lived dangerously at times as did the fielders when his bat slipped out of his hands and landed in the covers.
It was youth from both ends as Magesh was replaced by D’Costa for his first Grade 2 league game of the season. D’Costa took a wicket in only his second over by bowling Khan for 18 (1 x 6). By now the heavy drizzle had made conditions miserable for everyone and the players came off the field when rain replaced drizzle from the pavilion end.
Play resumed following a short break, and Gordonians looked to up the scoring rate, Phillips perishishing when he was bowled by D’Costa for 5, 149 – 5. Narula was doing well retaining the strike, but was finally out caught behind off a skier by Keeper Joy for a well struck 69 (1 x 6, 6 x 4), Rizwan the deserving bowler, Gordonians 175 – 6.
The conditions were back to miserable, but FP’s stuck to the task without complaint and took the last 4 Gordonians wickets for 13 runs. Magesh returned to bowl M. Jones for 4 and Rizwan mopped up the wet tail by bowling J. Jones and B. Harper and having Doliman very LBW, with C. Aggarawal 24 n.o. (1 x 6, 2 x 4), Gordonians all out for 193 off 44.3 overs. Rahul was the pick of the fielders for FP’s.
Bowling for FP’s, Kiran 6 – 0 – 33 – 0, Rizwan 11.2 – 1 – 47 – 5, Eagles 7 – 1 – 7 – 1, Magesh 9 – 0 – 42 – 1, Blues 6 – 0 – 26 – 0, D’Costa 5 – 0 – 29 – 2
Tea was taken but when the teams returned to the pitch, the wind was still driving the heavy drizzle across the pitch and FP’s were reluctant to start their innings. After a few minutes discussion, the rain returned and the covers were brought back on to the pitch. The weather had spoiled a rare opportunity for FP’s to bat on one of the best wickets in the North East.
Man of the half Match – Rizwan, a well bowled Five For which will count in the club averages
Champagne Moment – Soft drinks this week as Blues too young to participate despite his great piece of fielding.