City Centre Green Caps Gazumped By Grampian.

The third weekend in August in the Aberdeen Grades usually means Cup Final weekend in Grades Two, Three and Four. Six teams from an initial twenty four have the pleasure to contest the last chance of obtaining silverware.

Part of the joy of reaching the Cup Final means the teams have the luxury of not having to (as the home team) supply buffet and they also have a real live living and breathing Umpire to referee the contest.

If this appears to be sarcastic I apologise. It is most certainly not! If like me you are not the most skilled with the willow or the leather (oo-er!), part of your weekend cricket playing has to include duties such as umpiring, marking the book, collecting flags, making teas, taking the club equipment to the ground and so on.

I’m sure those who play Grade One or above are used to having umpires supplied and can be quite blasé about them. Those of us who play at the lower end/riff-raff who believe the only men they will see in white coats are either doctors or psychiatric hospital employees!

So to see Jim Stephen take charge of today’s final filled many of us with glee, especially those of us who usually have to umpire our own matches! We were even happier when he another bloke to square leg Umpire for him. We did not get his name but he had a Stoneywood Dyce top on and looked to be an all round good egg.

To get to the Final Grampian won by 8 wickets away to Dunecht in the Quarter Final and then overcome Siyapa in a much delayed semi final by the princely sum of 107 runs.

Portcullis reserved their best performances of the season for the Cup. First up they defeated St. Ronald (Cults 2nd XI) by 8 wickets in the Quarter Final. In the Semi Final a wonderful bowling spell of 7-18 by skipper Dave Mitchell backed up by a sharp athletic fielding performance saw Portcullis dismiss a powerful Stonehaven side for 51. Eight wickets was the margin of victory as Gary Steward and Shovon Mostofa saw them home.

The bookies had Grampian down as 1/7 favourites for today’s final with Portcullis lively outsiders at 4/1. The 4/1 held firm even when a (found to be bogus) story appeared on Facebook claiming Portcullis signed Kevin Pieterson for the Final!! Grampian were not to be fooled by Portcullis’s portly Secretary’s Ronnie Falconer’s mind games!

Skipper Dave Mitchell won the toss against his Grampian counterpart Johnson Varghese Snr and elected to field first. Mitch would be hoping to re-enact memories of their League Fixture from 2015 when Portcullis bowled them out for 42!

Playing at Duthie Park Two, Mitch chose to open the bowling from the bandstand end. The luxury of captaincy giving him the perceived easier downhill run. ‘Toiling’ up the hill would be hat-trick hero of the season Shovon Mostofa. Grampian would lead their assault with the willow with Semi Final half centurion Jerry Paul and Rosin Joseph.

The initial exchanges went to Portcullis. Grampian paid a lot of respect to Mitchell’s bowling in particular.

The first wicket fell in the sixth over. It was to be Rosin Joseph who fell when Mostofa got one to come back in and trap Joseph l lbw. Grampian 13 -1.

It was the turn of Jeby George to join Jerry Paul at the crease. With this pair together the runs rate was expected to motor but not so. George in particular was very out of character with his batting. In previous matches he usually likes to dominate with the willow, taking the attack to the opposition. Today he was very mindful taking 16 balls to even get off the mark.

He was showing Mitchell the utmost respect.

The score moved onto 22 when Mostofa, perhaps fortunately, captured his second wicket. The previous ball had been a mucky off side full toss with which Jerry Paul smashed back past Mostofa for a monstrous six amongst the trees at the Winter Gardens.

One of the tests for a bowler is how they react to being smashed for a maximum. Do they tighten their line restricting this happening again? Some brave (or foolish) bowl a slower ball, hoping that may fox the batsman.

Mostofa did neither. Whether by accident or design (only he would know) Mostofa delivered the exact same ball as the previous one. A mucky off side full toss.

Paul, perhaps shocked, or perhaps pumped up with adrenalin on seeing the previous ball go into orbit tried to do the same again. This time though he mistimed his drive, rushing the shot. As a result the ball instead of being forest bound went high towards extra cover where Owen Thorpe was on hand to take a fine catch.

Grampian 22-2.

During this period of play Portcullis had spilled a chance. A drive towards long on had gone towards Richard Collinson. He showed good movement to get into position to take the high spiralling ball. Alas his efforts were in vain as the ball gut-churningly spilled out of his hands and onto the green baize.

One of the nice things of playing with Portcullis is that no-one gets heckled for dropping a catch. We have all spilled one (or more!) and know the horrible feeling that comes with it. It is quite the reverse in fact. Team mates prefer geeing up their wounded colleague, the mantra being the most important catch is always the next one. Heads up. We still have a match to win!

The loss of Jerry Paul brought about the introduction of Johnson Varghese Snr to join Jeby George at the crease.

It could be argued that this pairing are Grampian’s best two batsmen. Their time together at the crease could determine the outcome of today’s final.

And so it proved initially.

Varghese Snr opened up with four dot balls but soon got up to speed, his next three balls from Mostofa going for boundaries. He was one batsman in this league who would dictate to the bowlers.

Jeby George got back into his old ways again as well as he too was growing into the task ahead. He stayed in check though, mindful that his partner was in especially good touch.

Alas the pairing of Mitchell and Mostofa took no further wickets in their opening spells and came off after six overs apiece. At this point Grampian had moved onto 40-2.

It was the turn of Ross McKenzie and Gary Steward to enter the Duthie Park arena. Skipper Mitchell hoping that the change of attack may break the concentration of the Grampian duo.

The Grampian pair were well set in at this point and were solid. As is the want of the Grampian side they both went on the accelerator. Varghese Snr, along with Prem Ballal of Knightriders 2nds, showed himself to be one of the best two batsmen in Grade Three. His showing with the bat in this final continued to rubber stamp this fact.

His three earlier fours were joined soon after by a further four fours and two sixes as he took the match away from the City Centre Green Caps. Steward’s bowling in particular suffering at the hands of Varghese and he was taken off after 3 overs. Owen Thorpe, having impressed during nets, came and went as well as him net form did not follow him onto the pitch. As a result Mostofa was brought back on to see if he could finish off his spell with his “golden arm” which had produced the only two wickets for Portcullis thus far.

The force was still with Mostofa.

With his eighth ball of his second spell, he got George to lash at an overpitched delivery. The ball went skyward deep towards mid-off. That man Richard Collinson was on hand and with a cool head and steady hands, made no mistake with the next opportunity that came his way, taking a fine catch into the bargain. Grampian 104-3 and Jeby George back to the bandstand with a fine 30 to his name.

This heartened the Portcullis faithful and hopes of a comeback were entertained. Any hopes of said comeback would have to entail with Varghese Snr joining his partner back off of the field of play pronto!

In the meantime it was the turn of Noby Jacob to join his Skipper Varghese Snr at the crease.

The pair took the score onto 133 before the prized wicket of Varghese Snr was taken.

It was that man Mostofa again!

With three balls remaining of his allotted ten over spell few would have bet on him to get a five-for. Rumours that Betfair was trading at this point at 100’s on such an event could not be confirmed!

Such an event took place however. With the third last ball of the spell, Varghese Snr swept Mostofa’s leg side ball towards deep square leg. Fortunately Skipper Mitchell had moved Steward to that exact position, Steward on hand to take a cracking catch on the boundary.

Varghese departed for a superb 61. His innings included seven fours and three sixes.

Next man in was Regi Paul. He opened his innings with a fine two and then was trapped lbw with Mostofa’s last ball of his spell. Grampian 135-5. Shovon Mostofa finishing with 5-60 from his allotted ten overs.

With the two key Grampian batsmen back off the field of play, Portcullis grabbed wickets regularly to bring Grampian’s innings to a close.

Noby Jacob went for 13 as he attacked Mitchell’s bowling. Jacob driving one again towards that man Collinson at deep mid-off who was on hand to take his second outfield catch of the day.

Vaisakh Sasidharan was next to go. A bold shot into the deep was chased down by a backpedalling Mannie Hussein. Mannie did well to thrust his right hand to a ball going over his head. His momentum in catching the ball made him fall backwards. Hussein showed tremendous ability to hang onto the ball to take a corker of a catch from the bowling of Ross McKenzie.

Johnsen Varghese Jnr anchored the tail end of the innings making a valuable 19 before he became Collinson’s third catch of the afternoon, this time off of the bowling again from Ross McKenzie.

Sonu Charley was trapped lbw to Gary Steward and a fine piece of fielding by Jake Dawson saw Gipson Gilbert leave the field of play as he was comfortably run out.

This left Alwin Nimmy the not out batsman on 5 as Grampian’s innings closed on 188 all out.

Along with Johnson Varghese Snr (61) and Jeby Paul (30), Grampian had three other batsmen who made useful double figure scores. They were Johnson Varghese Jnr (19), Jerry Paul (14) and Noby Jacob (13).

Shovon Mostofa led the way with the ball taking 5-60 from his 10 overs. Ross McKenzie returned figures of 2-37 whilst Dave Mitchell (1-24) and Gary Steward (1-47) were the other wicket takers.

After a quick tea it was the turn of Portcullis to chase down the reply.

Chasing down such a vast amount meant that Portcullis had to change their tactics. Thus they did opening the batting with Jayaraj Raj and Gary Steward. Jay would take on the mantle of pitch hitter whilst Gary would be the anchor man of the Portcullis innings. It was a gamble but one worth taking. After all Cup Finals do not come around that often and it is better to know you tried all options than to die wandering.

In reply Grampian would open their bowling with Noby Jacob and Regi Paul.

Grampian stalwart Noby Jacob must have recognised the Portcullis change of tactics as his, and Grampian’s first ball of the final could have been better, Jacob producing a scintillating Yorker that was to do for Raj. Portcullis 0-1.

The gamble had failed but was always worth the punt.

This meant that skipper Mitchell would be joining Steward at the crease. The pair took charge of the next 9 overs as they brought Portcullis up to 28. With Jacob bowling tight it was the unknown Regi Paul who the pair plundered from.

The second ball of Paul’s fifth over went for a fine pulled four through mid wicket. At this point it looked as Portcullis would make the charge towards the Grampian total and take the game by the scruff of the neck.

Instead it would be Grampian, and Regi Paul, who would grab this match by the scruff of it’s neck.

With his next ball Paul trapped Mitchell with a fine ball, trapping him lbw. Portcullis 32-2.

Shovon Mostofa, the next man in, lasted two balls as he too was trapped lbw by Paul.

Not content with two wickets from the first five balls of this over, Regi Paul got next man in Owen Thorpe out first ball as he got one to dart back in from leg stump to bowl the bewildered Thorpe.

One over of Regi Paul magic had taken Portcullis from a promising 32-1 to a shaky 32-4! The three wickets in four balls changing the course of this match once and for all.

Along with the next two batsmen, Richard Collinson and Simon Winstanley, Gary Steward made great attempts to get Portcullis back into this match. He shared and 18 partnership with Collinson before Collinson got out caught and bowled to that man Jonson Varghese Snr, proving to be as painful with the ball as he had been with the bat. Steward then enjoyed a partnership of 23 before Winstanley got out caught by Regi Paul from the bowling of Varghese Snr again.

Steward himself finally succumbed to Grampian’s “golden arm” Regi Paul as Rohin Joseph took a fine catch. Portcullis now 77-7.

This brought the pairing of Mannie Hussein and Chris Poolman to the crease. All hopes of victory now gone it was a case of batting and battling for pride.

The pair did just that as they enjoyed an eighth wicket partnership of 23 before the bowling of Vaisakh Sasidharan had Hussein caught by Noby Jacob for a gallant 10.

It was the turn of Jake Dawson to enter the field of play. Poolman would not last long with him though, Poolman being run out for 104.

Last man in was the ginger maestro, Ben Sto.. Sorry Ross McKenzie! The pair added six runs to the Portcullis total before McKenzie was bowled by Vaisakh Sasidharan.

Portcullis 110 all out. Jake Dawson finishing on a fine 8 not out.

For Portcullis Gary Steward top scored for Portcullis with a fine 37 that included six sumptuous fours, Dave Mitchell chipped in with a useful 21 whilst Mannie Hussein was the only other batsman to make double figures, making a solid 10.

For Grampian their main man with the ball was Regi Paul. His 10 over spell returned figures of 4-40. He was ably backed up by Johnson Varghese Snr (2-10), Vaisakh Sasidharan (2-15) and a tight opening spell by Noby Jacob (1-9).

The result being that Grampian won the match by 78 runs. Grampian being well worthy of their victory, their second Cup win in two seasons.

A big thank you also goes to Jim Stephen and his colleague for his umpiring today as he did a fine job! A big thanks also go the Grades for providing the Umpires, teas and pitch for the Final itself.

PORTCULLIS MAN OF THE MATCH.

GARY STEWARD pips Shovon Mostofa for the award. His 37 runs, one wicket and one catch made him the worthy winner. Dave Mitchell also deserves a mention for his 21 runs and wicket.

MAN OF THE MATCH.

JOHNSON VARGHESE SNR took the honours. His knock of 61, bowling figures of 2-10 and a catch to boot makes him the easy choice.

PORTCULLIS CATCH OF THE MATCH.

GARY STEWARD’s boundary catch to dismiss Johnson Varghese Snr was top drawer. Special mention also goes to Richard Collinson to take three fine catches following his earlier spill

Wednesday, 05 October, 2016