AGSFP’s 2nd XI and 3rd XI both benefited from Gordonians 3rd XI scratching their Grade 3 match against FP’s 2nd XI. Although missing out on a sunny Saturday, the 2nds were gifted 30 points, a sad, but probably the best way of keeping them above the 3rds in the league. But, more importantly, the 3rd XI were thus given the chance to play at Rubislaw for the first time this season, avoiding a visit to Sheddocksley.
The team selected to play the Grade 3 match against Stonehaven 2nd XI was Johnston, Sandeep, Siddarth, Aninda, Guru, A. MacDonald, Diago Maradona, M. Campbell, P.Norwood, Vishal and debutant wicket keeper John Waldron.
FP’s finally won a toss and with rain forecast for later in the afternoon decided to bat first in pleasant sunny conditions.
Siddarth got off the mark with a beautifully timed leg glance which sped to the boundary. The fast outfield meant that a steady 3 runs per over was achieved for the first 10 overs without too many risks being taken as Stonehaven captain Jason Gouws and fellow opening bowler A. Gardner made FP’s batsmen Siddarth and Aninda work for their runs with an accurate opening spell.
Siddarth was the first batsman to be dismissed attempting to attack the bowing when he just failed to clear the mid-off fielder who took a smart catch above his head, Sid out caught Snelling bowled Gardner for 21 (3 x 4), FP’s 34 – 1.
Debutant wicketkeeper Waldron had been waiting a while to face his first ball for 3rd FP’s and faces a long wait until he faces his second ball for 3rd FP’s, as he was bowled first ball playing no shot to an “inswinger” from Gardner, FP’s 34 – 2 off 10.4 overs.
Having scored only 1 run for the 2nds whilst batting in his least favourite position the previous week and been dropped by the 2nd XI captain Magesh the Merciless, new batsman Guru was keen to show his ex-captain and his current, more understanding captain, just how good a batsman he is whilst batting in his favourite position with his favourite ( the more understanding captains) bat.
Guru managed to show how good a (no 4) batsman he is by stroking and occasionally smashing the Stonehaven attack all round Rubislaw. Starting carefully, for a change, he went into overdrive later, hitting two massive sixes in consecutive overs to help bring up FP’s 100 in the 23rd over.
Meanwhile, opening batsman Aninda, a left handed Gavasker lookalike, had adopted the Gavasker batalike role to perfection, keeping out the good deliveries and glancing and gliding into the gaps for singles to allow Guru to force the pace. The only black marks in his performance was a tendency to’ walk’ a run with his back to play and twice being called by the umpire for short runs, not even his, but Guru’s. This after having played in last week’s 2nd XI very tense one run victory over Dunecht…
Guru was then hit a painful blow on his left foot in the first over of a new spell by opening bowler Gouws which unfortunately for Stonehaven restricted his running. As a result, Guru hit three very powerful drives to the boundary off the next four balls, including one memorable drive off the back foot through mid-off to bring up his 50.
Guru looked to be scoring at will, but was unexpectedly beaten by a dipping full toss from bowler D. Cruickshank which just clipped the outside of the off stump, Guru dismissed for 75 (2 x 6, 11 x 4), FP’s 152 – 3 off 30.1 overs. The third wicket stand had been worth 118 in 19 overs.
New batsman Aly MacDonald continued the onslaught, scoring mainly in boundaries, with several well timed shots off his legs being the best. Unfortunately, MacDonald was run out after a ‘mix-up’ with Aninda, but later accepted the apology following ‘Gavasker’s gaffe’. MacDonald scored a quick fire 37 (8 x 4), FP’s 220 – 4 off 38.1 overs.
Understandably, Aninda was beginning to look a bit tired, but still managed to time a couple of lovely drives through the covers to the boundary as FP’s piled on the runs. After completing his first half century for FP’s, Aninda was finally out after his long innings for 53 (3 x 4) when he was bowled by Gardener, FP’s 224 – 5.
New batsmen Maradona and Campbell came out swinging and blasted a rapid 39 runs in 4 overs allowing FP’s to declare on a very healthy 264 – 5 off 42 overs, Maradona not out 20 (1 x 6, 2 x 4) Campbell not out 19 (4 x 4). For Stonehaven wicket takers were Gardner 11 – 0 – 55 – 3, Cruickshank 6 – 0 – 47 – 1.
The declaration in 42 overs bringing in to play the new-fangled activated draw rule whereby Stonehaven would have to score 75% of the FP’s total to prevent FP’s being awarded full points even if the game ended in a draw. As the captains scratched their heads working out the required total from the Grades handbook handy ready reckoner, the required target was finally agreed at 198, as Campbell the computer casually confirmed in passing.
Following a good tea in the Pavillion, with thanks to Magesh the Maître d’, the Stonehaven openers made their way out in perfect batting conditions, but with dark clouds gathering in the distance from the Sheddocksley direction.
With a quick breakthrough required to put the pressure on Stonehaven, Vishal bowled the perfect ball to Gardner and hit the off stump with a lovely inswinger, Stonehaven 1 – 1 off 5 balls. Vishal struck again 8 balls and one broken bail later with a similar dismissal of S. Hall also for a duck, Stonehaven 5 – 2.
Not long into the Stonehaven innings, FP’s batsman Aninda injured a finger and FP’s were fortunate that one of this week’s non-selected players Sara was at Rubislaw as a spectator, and was allowed to come on as 12th man by a sporting Stonehaven captain.
There then followed a Long partnership by D. Long and A. Long which while not threatening to win the match, certainly kept Stonehaven interested. FP’s were sharp in the field and quick to change ends to maximise the overs as the clouds gathered and it became noticeably darker.
Vishal had bowled with great control and was given a rest after bowling 7 – 2 – 20 – 2, including 12 runs coming off one over as A. Long smashed anything short or wide. At the other end Campbell was bowling too well for the batsmen to edge behind, frustratingly beating the bat on numerous occasions and he too was rested after bowling 8 – 1 – 29 – 0.
Danger man A. Long was doing his best to keep up with the required scoring rate and had hit a powerful 52 ( 4 x 6, 3 x 4) before he was out bowled by Guru, Stonehaven 102 – 3 off 19.2 overs.
D.Long had survived the opening bowlers spell, but became new bowler Sid’s first victim when Norwood, snoozing at 2nd slip, timed a yawn perfectly, his elevated right hand being in the ideal position to knock the speeding ball up in the air, then falling gently into his hands as he inspected the damage, Stonehaven 108 – 4 off 22.1 overs. This was a big breakthrough as Long had frustrated FP’s since the innings began.
Stonehaven then soon lost J Gouws for 6, plumb LBW to Guru. D Cruickshank took advantage of any bad ball, but was comfortably caught by Sandeep at mid-off as he went for one shot too many, Siddarth being the bowler. Stonehaven 126 – 6, Cruickshank scoring 19 (4 x 4).
A rain interruption threatened to prevent FP’s forcing a victory, with a heavy shower reluctantly sending the FP’s team from the pitch for 20 minutes or so. But with bright skies appearing from sunny Sheddocksley, a void game was becoming unlikely. With the shower over, a quick reassuring pitch inspection from the concerned groundsman showed no problem and play resumed with FP’s requiring to remove the last 4 batsmen in the remaining 19 overs.
Fortunately for FP’s, Guru was in the Guroove and soon after the resumption took 3 wickets in one over, first bowling L. Verstralen for 2, next ball having inexperienced G. Goodwin sharply stumped by an alert Waldron and although missing out on a hat trick, then bowled D. Morgan. Stonehaven suddenly on the brink of defeat at 130 – 9. Guru had taken his first fivefor as an FP player, but the smile was almost wiped off his face when he was told that he now had to buy two jugs of beer following his earlier half century.
The last wicket partnership lasted a spirited 4 overs before Guru finished the game off by bowling Vikesh for 4 with Snelling not out 8 (1 x 4), Stonehaven all out 141 off 35.5 overs.
This was a good all round performance by FP’s and although one man gets the headlines, it was a team performance with everyone contributing with runs, catches, wickets and most importantly, a good tea.
Champagne Moment – Paul ‘the Cat’ Norwood’s reflex catch at 2nd slip
Man of the Match – Guru does it again, 75 runs and 6 – 37