Grammar crashed out of the Aberdeenshire cup losing on DLS in a unique manner as the groundsman closed the ground at 8pm. After lots of rain the umpires did well to get the game on but despite it being known the ground would close at 8, under the rules it was not possible to reduce the overs in advance so the game was played rather blind, with a rather farcical last over as Masterblasters blocked it out knowing that time was due to run out and they would be ahead. It was shame it ended that way as the game was in the balance.
Grammar though were made to regret two things, not making more than 185 for 9 after Rasib Bashir had smashed 69 from 55 balls at the top of the order and then failing to capitalise having reduced Masterblasters to 16 for 3. It should have been 16/4 but a bad dropped catch was costly.
In a topsy-turvy innings that saw moments of brilliance and collapse in equal measure, the batting side posted 185 for 9 in 40 overs, which felt under par. After being put in to bat under overcast skies, openers Keith and Bashir got off to a promising start. Keith, elegant through the off-side, struck six crisp boundaries in his 26 before falling to Sahak with the score on 83. But it was Bashir who stole the show early on, launching a brutal assault on the bowlers with a 55-ball 69, laced with five fours and six towering sixes, one smashed straight over the pavilion.
However, once Bashir departed—caught in the deep off Parkar—the innings unraveled. Parkar, bowling with guile and control, tore through the middle order, claiming four wickets for just 17 runs in his eight overs. His victims included Swiergon, Haider, and Bedaar, all of whom struggled to get going.
The middle order offered little resistance, with only Haider (11 off 28) and Upadhyaya (8 off 22) managing to reach double figures. The collapse saw the side slump from 114 for 1 to 147 for 7 in a matter of overs.
A late cameo from Javaid, who remained unbeaten on 21 off 20 balls, including a six and two boundaries, helped push the total to a respectable 185. Extras also played a part, with the bowling side conceding 25 runs through wides, no-balls, and byes.
In the bowling department, Parkar was ably supported by Thaker, who returned impressive figures of 2 for 16 in his full quota. Sahak and Mallireddy chipped in with a wicket apiece, while the rest of the attack struggled with discipline, leaking runs and extras.
With 185 on the board, the match was finely poised. The pitch had shown signs of variable bounce, and Grammar knew if they could replicate Parkar’s precision, they may well be able to defend this total.
In an innings that swung like a pendulum and ended under grey skies, the Masterblasters held their nerve to secure a well-earned victory by 11 runs via the (DLS) method.
Masterblasters got off to a disastrous start. Poosappadi struck twice in quick succession, removing both openers — V Vijapur and S Kuttykrishnan — with just 11 runs on the board. When Gupta was bowled by Hassaan, the scoreboard read a precarious 18 for 3, and the Grammar had their tails up. The 1st ball after the 2nd rain break Thaker was spilled and this was to be pivotal.
Amid the collapse, Tenneti emerged as the anchor. Calm and composed, he stitched together a patient innings of 47 not out off 61 balls, holding the innings together. He found support in Thaker (22) and later Mallireddy, who added an unbeaten 37 off 49 balls, including a six and two boundaries.
Just as the pair began to rebuild and the chase looked to be regaining momentum, the weather intervened. With the score at 136 for 5 after 30 overs, persistent rain forced the players off the field. After a lengthy delay, the umpires called off play, and the DLS calculations came into effect.
At the 30-over mark, there was no more time left to play and it was Masterblasters who were awarded the game. They were certainly on top, but it was a shame the game could not be played out to a natural conclusion.
Poosappadi’s early breakthroughs, combined with disciplined spells from Javaid, Hassaan, and Haider, ensured the pressure never eased but Grammar were left to rue a few mistakes fom earlier in the afternoon
First Innings: Grammar – 185/9 (40 Overs)
Batting:
| Name | Dismissal | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Keith | c H Parkar b M Sahak | 26 | 41 | 6 | 0 | 63.41 |
| R Bashir | c C Mallireddy b H Parkar | 69 | 55 | 5 | 6 | 125.45 |
| R Swiergon | c S Kuttykrishnan b H Parkar | 3 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 18.75 |
| AM Haider | c C Mallireddy b H Parkar | 11 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 39.29 |
| AA Upadhyaya | b D Thaker | 8 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 36.36 |
| S Bedaar | b H Parkar | 8 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 34.78 |
| M Hassaan | c S Kuttykrishnan b D Thaker | 4 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 44.44 |
| S Bin Khalid | c H Gupta b C Mallireddy | 3 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 37.50 |
| G Morrison | ro (V Vijapur, S Kuttykrishnan) | 7 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 35.00 |
| H Javaid | not out | 21 | 20 | 2 | 1 | 105.0 |
| P Poosappadi | not out | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
Bowling:
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | NB | WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S Peedikayil | 5 | 0 | 39 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| M Kakarla | 4.5 | 0 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| V Vijapur | 3 | 0 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| M Sahak | 8 | 2 | 32 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| H Parkar | 8 | 2 | 17 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| D Thaker | 8 | 0 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| C Mallireddy | 3 | 0 | 21 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
Second Innings: Masterblasters – 136/5 (30 Overs)
Batting:
| Name | Dismissal | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| H Gupta | b M Hassaan | 10 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 66.67 |
| V Vijapur | c G Morrison b P Poosappadi | 2 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 12.50 |
| S Kuttykrishnan | lbw b P Poosappadi | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| P Tenneti | not out | 47 | 61 | 4 | 0 | 77.05 |
| D Thaker | c AA Upadhyaya b AM Haider | 22 | 26 | 3 | 0 | 84.62 |
| MOA Khan | lbw b H Javaid | 6 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 54.55 |
| C Mallireddy | not out | 37 | 49 | 2 | 1 | 75.51 |
| M Kakarla | DNB | – | – | – | – | – |
| H Parkar | DNB | – | – | – | – | – |
| S Peedikayil | DNB | – | – | – | – | – |
| M Sahak | DNB | – | – | – | – | – |
Bowling:
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | NB | WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P Poosappadi | 8 | 0 | 43 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| M Hassaan | 7 | 1 | 24 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| H Javaid | 7 | 0 | 32 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| AM Haider | 7 | 0 | 35 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| R Bashir | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |