Crathie win thriller as Portcullis remembers.

Following Portcullis’s six wicket defeat to Grampian CC in the Johnston Rose Bowl Semi Final, the first weekend of August had Portcullis initially fixtureless. Thankfully an offer of playing Crathie CC at The Balmoral Estate was kindly accepted. This meant that the City Centre Green Caps had a very pleasant away friendly amongst the magnificent scenery of Royal Deeside.

For being such a glamourous fixture, it was set to a sombre backdrop. This would be the first fixture for Portcullis since they club learned of the passing of one of its favourite sons – Nitin Shetty – who tragically passed away at the very young age of 34. He left a son and wife behind.

For the first time in nearly four seasons – somewhat poignant some might say – Portcullis were a man down. Despite being a wonderful setting they could only muster 10 men.

It turned out that Crathie could only muster ten players as well. The game did start 11- a – side though as Crathie Guest player Rufus Gandhi kindly offered his 9 year old twins – Ruben and Tasmin – to make up the numbers. Ruben would star for Portcullis, Tasmin would star for Crathie!

Being a friendly that neither side were taking too seriously, it was the ideal occasion to introduce some youngsters. The pair brought both team’s average age down considerably!

Prior to the toss Crathie joined their black arm banded Portcullis opponents to listen to a few words mentioned by Portcullis Secretary Ronnie Falconer in the memory of their forever absent team mate Nitin Shetty.

This was followed by an impeccable minute’s silence in respect of Nitin. Set in such beautiful surroundings, it was an idyllic setting for both teams to pay their respects.

Being a friendly a toss did not happen. The Captains, Chris Bell of Crathie and Dave Mitchell of Portcullis ‘debated’ whom had the weakest batting line-up. Chris ‘won’ the debate and Portcullis went into bat. The teams also decided to make it 30 overs a side. Weather forecasts predicting that an 80 over match would not last.

Being a friendly it was a great occasion for Portcullis to mix up their batting order.

And they did.

It was agreed that Mitch would open the batting with Simon Win Stanley. For Crathie it was the sound pairing of Mike Baldrey and Bob McAra who would share the new ball for Crathie.

Baldry and McAra kept things tight in their initial three over salvos, conceding very few runs. Mike Baldrey also had the scalp of Winstanley as well, bowling him with his customary off cutter. He pitches it about 4-6 inches outside off stump and it comes back in to hit the stumps. It is a ball he executes well and Winstanley need feel no shame as he went back to the hut, bowled for 2. Many others had gone by the same way before him.

Portcullis 12-1.

This brought Richard Collinson to the crease. He enjoyed a brief partnership with Mitchell that promised so much. Both players looked comfortable. In the meantime Crathie brought on J. Thomas and Rufus Gandhi onto bowl.

This move would do for Collinson.

Thomas did for Collinson. His nagging accuracy doing Collinson playing across the line a distracted shot, his eyes looking everywhere but where they should be – at the ball.

Portcullis 20-2.

It was the turn of Portcullis’s Australian left-hander Hamish Mitchell next to join skipper Dave Mitchell. Alas he was to fall to a Rufus Gandhi flipper that brushed the outside edge of his bat – wicketkeeper Feeney holding onto a super catch! Portcullis 25-3.

Andrew Blackwell was next. The tall Yorkshireman defended a couple stoutly and then cottoned onto a rare loose ball from Thomas. He smashed it sharply towards mid-on. Unfortunately he picked out Bell standing there and the Crathie man held onto a good catch.

Portcullis 32-4.

It was the turn of Bob Adie next. Bob started solidly but got himself in a muddle, going back to a ball he should have went forward to – the piercing accuracy of Thomas snaffling up a third wicket for the hot Crathie bowler. Portcullis 40-5.

It was the turn of Ronnie Falconer next. Seeing that skipper Mitchell was set, Falconer decided to bed in. Mitchell peppered the boundary whilst Falconer defended stoutly. The pair looked solid until a farcical run –out did for Falconer.

It started when Mitchell drove the ball to the mid-off fielder who was deep. A call of ‘wait’ was followed by a call of ‘two’(?) and Falconer was run out by a foot after a fine throw by Elson.

Portcullis 65-5.

Andy Philip was next, hitting a sharp two before McAra came back on and had him trapped lbw. Portcullis 70-6.

Alan Dobey entered the fray. It was a welcome return of the Portcullis Smoggie. He was nursing a wrist injury and had set himself to defend. Alas adrenalin got the better of him and he too was trapped lbw by the mischievous McAra. Portcullis 78-7.

In the meantime Skipper Dave Mitchell batted wonderfully to hold the Portcullis innings together. On a difficult ground to score runs, he hit many a boundary and a few hard run two’s as he set a target for Crathie to chase. His showpiece shot was a pull over mid-wicket that even the Crathie stalwarts approved of for a stupendous six.

It was the turn of young Ruben Gandhi to make his batting debut for Portcullis. Being in the spirit of a friendly his sister Tasmin was allowed to bowl a few balls to her brother. The foray between the pair fascinating viewing as neither one would allow the other get the upper hand. It sadly ended too soon as that rotter Mike Baldry entered the fray and, off his full run-up**, bowled the luckless Ruben.

It was the first time I have ever seen both teams boo a bowler in a cricket match – albeit in true panto style!

This left debutant Chris Poolman come in to bat out the remaining overs. With three balls remaining young Poolman was trapped lbw by that cad Baldry***.

The innings finished with Portcullis 88 all out from 29.3 overs. Dave Mitchell made the only score of note for Portcullis 68 not out. During that splendid innings he hit 6 fours and one spectacular six. For Crathie, J Thomas was the star bowler finishing with figures of 3-15. The scoundrel Mike Baldrey finished with 3-8 (two of his wickets at a combined age of 26 and weight of 13 stone – shocking!). Bob McAra’s two lbw’s meant he finished with honest figures of 2-21. Rufus Gandhi being the other wicket taker (1-4).

With a splendid tea being supplied by the hosts, of which Falconer once again being guilty of having second helpings on the pie front, it was time for Crathie to post a reply to Portcullis’s intriguing total.

Crathie, also mixing their order, opened the batting with the wicket taking pairing of Baldry and Thomas. For Portcullis the (almost) new cherry would be shared by the pairing of Ronnie Falconer and Simon Winstanley.

Falconer’s opening three over spell was disappointing as the Crathie pairing took a liking to it. Perhaps the extra pie had done for him. Thankfully his bowling partner Winstanley resisted the second helping of pies.

It served Winstanley well. He produced a perfect off cutter of his own in his first over, getting it to dart back 2-3 inches. The result being the ball hitting the top of off stump and beating Thomas all ends up! Crathie 4-1.

Winstanley bowled right through as Falconer got rested after his three over spell. Taking the place of Thomas was Rufus Gandhi. He started carefully as he looked to anchor the innings for Crathie.

At the other end Baldry took full advantage of Falconer’s wayward 18 ball spell. One short pitched one being dispatched with aplomb for a serene six!

With Falconer leaking runs, Mitchell decided to bring himself on next. His spell was tight as was Winstanley’s. The pair’s bowling reining Crathie back in and making the game competitive again.

It was Winstanley who took a second wicket. The ball being a replica of his first wicket, jagging back in from outside off stump to once again hit the top of off stump.

Crathie 23-2 after 10 overs.

Next man in was McLean. He hung around with Gandhi, helping Crathie get closer to the magic total of 89. In the meantime Portcullis changed their bowling attack. With Winstanley having finished his bowling quota with fantastic figures of 6-1-5-2 and Mitchell wishing to save a couple of overs till later, it was the turn of Andy Philip and Bob Adie to enter the fray. Philip, like Winstanley and Mitchell before him, bowled a nice tight line. Adie not so much with his varying off-spin. It was Adie though who took the next wicket. He managed to lure McLean to mistime a pull towards square leg where Falconer was on hand to take a good catch.

Crathie 33-3 after 17 overs.

The next man in was Feaney. He took no time to settle and and soon began to spray the ball about. Adie was replaced by Collinson whilst Falconer came on to replace Philip.

Falconer, wicketless, then was replaced by Mitchell as he sought to achieve a breakthrough. He duly did, trapping the dangerous Feeney for a dashing 20.

Crathie 60-4 after 23 overs.

Collinson joined in the fun when he trapped Boden lbw with some late drift to fox the Crathie no 6. Crathie 72-5.

Mixing the bowling it was time to introduce the debutant Poolman into the bowling attack. His variety of flight causing problems. He was joined by the returning Philip as the City Centre Green Caps tried to close out the match.

It was Poolman who struck next. He deceived anchorman Gandhi with a flighted delivery that bamboozled the Crathie no 3, bowling him by clipping the top of the stumps. Gandhi, unusually with his feet wide apart and off balance.

This brought young Tasmin Gandhi to the crease and the sibling rivalry was one once again! Tasmin, managed to remain undefeated, despite Ruben’s best efforts with the ball. With rain looming in rapidly it was best thought that Tasmin ‘retire’.

She did with grace. With three balls remaining Crathie batsman Bob McAra steered Crathie to a deserved victory with a push through covers.

It was just in time as the rains closed in. This proved that both Captains were correct in reducing the match to 30 overs apiece.

A wonderful day finished with Crathie winning a thoroughly enjoyable and sporting day’s cricket by 4 wickets with three balls remaining. The match had been played competitively but in great spirits with many a player having a broad smile on their face during the day’s play.

I’m sure Nitin would have approved.

PORTCULLIS MAN OF THE MATCH.

It’s DAVE MITCHELL by a country mile. A wonderful 68 not out was followed by figures of 1-4 from six overs. Simon deserves a mention for his 2-5 from six overs.

CRATHIE MAN OF THE MATCH.

It goes to MIKE BALDRY. He’s not a rotter really! He bowled well and had a nice knock of 13. Rufus Gandhi anchored well for 21 and took a wicket to push Baldry close.

PORTCULLIS MOMENT OF THE MATCH.

The minute’s silence. Impeccably done by both sets of players.

ADDENDUM.

Both teams chipped in and raised £100 towards the Nepal Earthquake Appeal. Well done all.

Thursday, 13 August, 2015