Portcullis pull off record run chase to seal a remarkable victory!

The first weekend in May saw Portcullis rock up to Duthie Park for their first Grades match of the season. It should have been the week before, but an unprepared pitch left the City Centre Green Caps alongside Grampian 2nds with another weekend without cricket.

Skipper Shovon Mostofa won the toss and, with the DP pitch being of an unknown quantity, thought best to put AGSFP 3rds in.

Things started promisingly for the Portcullis posse. Opening bowlers Ross McKenzie and Shovon Mostofa both bagging an opener in their first overs.

McKenzie was first to strike - clean bowling Chawla with his first delivery. 1-1 became 1-2 when Mostofa trapped Jim Lee in the next over lbw. AGSFP 3rds 1-2.

This brought the classy pairing of John Eagles and Elia Gubbala to the crease. Gubbala was certainly not going to be found wanting and immediately turned the match on it’s head. A dazzling array of strokes saw Gubbala share a partnership of 78 with Eagles. Gubbala scored 61 (12x4,1x6) of those runs in rapid fashion before he was bowled by a low shooter from the bowling of Gary Steward. AGSFPS 78-3 in the 13th over. Gubbala a tad unlucky to leave the arena in such a fashion.

The Duthie Park crowd were being entertained in no uncertain fashion!

This brought the talented all-rounder Aman Sood to the crease. Like Gubbala before him, Sood took to the Portcullis bowling and began to tuck in. The pair enjoyed a fine 4th wicket partnership of 71 in 16 overs. Portcullis mixed and matched their bowling with Mostofa, McKenzie, Steward, Kannan Vijayakrishnan and Owen Thorpe but no avail.

It was their sixth bowler that brought about their just rewards. Skipper Mostofa turned to the experienced Brian Harper and gave him the unpleasant task of bowling uphill into the wind.

Harper managed to get Eagles to clip one high towards deep mid-wicket. Jake Dawson once again made tremendous ground to make a cracking catch look easy. AGSFP 3rds 150-4 after 29 overs. A tremendous platform to add to an already impressive score.

This lead to a bit of a comeback for Portcullis. AGSFP’S still scored freely. Next man in (Reg?)Yarney enjoyed a 5th wicket partnership of 34 with a now rampant Sood before Sood became Harper’s second victim, McKenzie on hand to take a fine catch. AGSFP’s 184-5. Sood back at the trees with a fine 65 to his name (10x4’s 1x6)

Wickets fell at regular intervals as he runs piled on. Harper took wickets three and four with the dismissals of Yarney – caught Steward - and Murray for a fine knock of 19 trapped lbw to the wily left hander.

McKenzie, battling a tight groin, came back on and dismissed Johnston caught behind thanks to some fine glovework by Richard Collinson. New man in Joseph was unfortunate to go first ball, popping one up in the air. Paul Brown dived low and fast to swoop on a fine catch inches off the ground.

The final wicket fell with two balls remaining. Ex Portcullisian Chris Poolman running out his partner in the pursuit of extra runs.

AFSFP 3rds posting a colossal total of 223 runs from their 45 overs. Aman Sood led the way with 65, Elia Gubbala pushing Sood close with a knock of 61. John Eagles once again holding the innings together with a splendid knock of 32 whilst J. Murray hit a cameo innings of 19.

For Portcullis Brian Harper led the way with the cherry, bowling intelligently to take 4-33. Ross McKenzie struck with 3-42 whilst Shovon Mostofa and Gary Steward took a wicket apiece. The other wicket being a run-out to wrap up the innings.

Tea was taken with Mrs Falconer’s spectacular home-made Lentil Soup going down a storm once more!

If Portcullis were being honest they were not thinking seriously about AGSFP’s total, the thinking being to try and reach 175 as this would bring 10 batting points to the 10 bowling points they already had. The outfield was quick and with the wind and sun getting quicker. There had been the odd snake in the wicket and it would have to behave if Portcullis were to make any kind of response.

If there was betting-in-play I would have had Portcullis around 33/1 at this stage to win the match at this point.

Mostofa opted to open with Dave Forbes and Gary Steward. AGSFP 3rds going with the pairing of Aman Sood and Elia Gubbala with the ball.

The sharp pace of Sood with his off cutters did for Forbes. In Sood’s third over he got one to nip back through the defences of Forbes to clip the top of middle stump. Portcullis 9-1 after 5 overs.

This brought Owen Thorpe to the crease. He had batted at three in the past and had finished the previous season in good touch.

Steward, having not touched a bat since last season, sensibly played himself in. Thorpe though was in buoyant mood clipping the second ball he received for a welcome boundary.

The pair stuck together for the remainder of Gubbala’s and Sood’s opening spells, waiting patiently to see what was to come. It was a wise tactic. Portcullis 29-1 after 11 overs.

The replacements were to be the seam of Mani complimented by the off-spin of Eagles. The Portcullis pair were now settled and were looking difficult to dislodge. Thorpe was enjoying himself clipping the odd one or two but preferring to pepper the boundary with consummate ease.

Steward upped the ante as well. The timing was coming back, and he also began to sus the field hitting shots directly to certain fielders but running anyway. At first glance this target looked dangerous but never was, the pair in sync – the partnership working beautifully.

The point where Portcullis began to realise they might have a squeak in winning this was in the 21st over bowled by Eagles. Thorpe was flying at this point as he caressed three consecutive balls for fours from Eagles with technique his namesake (and hero!) Graham would have been proud of!

Eagles and Mani were soon replaced by Chawla and Yarney and yet still the runs flowed. Thorpe reached his fifty with a fine drive through the covers for his 10th four of the match.

This led to the return of Sood and Gubbala but the runs continued. Sood appeared to stiffen up and did not look as fluid as he had earlier. Another small moral victory for the City Centre Green Caps. Ex-Portcullisian came into the bowling attack. A good choice as he had been a partnership breaker in the past for Portcullis. Alas his spin was not to happen for him today.

During this run of play the partnership reached 100, then Steward made his fifty with a clip off his legs for a single, the partnership sailed past 150 as Thorpe rapidly closed in on his maiden century. There were a lot of nervous watchers during the innings. The Portcullis (not so) fat controller showing the superstitious side of his character circling the pitch continuously so not to break the spell of the partnership.

Thankfully Thorpe reached the magnificent landmark with a fine off drive for his 18th four of the innings. A truly magnificent knock.

The partnership went on to 201 and the score onto 210 when Thorpe’s defences were finally breeched. The returning Gubbala bowling the Portcullis centurion with a cracking leg stump Yorker. Thorpe back to the trees with a magnificent 108 runs!

What a knock!

This brought Kannan Vijayakrishnan to the crease to join Steward. Vijayakrishnan had enough time to show he was in good touch hitting three crisp fours to help record a highly unlikely victory and even more unlikely run chase into the bargain.

Portcullis wrapped up the innings with Vijayakrishnan’s third four on 225-2 after 40.3 overs. An astonishing win in an astonishing game of cricket!

Owen Thorpe with his maiden century top scored with 108 runs which included 19 fours. The only chance he gave was to a probable no-ball which he had played at. Sood spilling the chance, probably due to him waiting for the call of no-ball. The shock being that it never came doing for him.

Gary Steward had carried his bat quite magnificently for an unbeaten 76 not out which included seven fabulous fours. He paced his innings quite brilliantly giving Portcullis every opportunity to grasp victory. Kannan Vijayakrishnan finished the innings off with a cameo knock of 12 not out, deciding only to deal in boundaries.

The AGSFP 3rds wicket takers were Sood and Gubbala with a wicket each both with fine deliveries.

AGSFP’s can count themselves very unlucky. They will play worse than today and win. Portcullis on the other hand will never bat better than today and lose.

Next up for Portcullis is a home fixture against Dunecht. AGSFP 3rds will be on their travels to Turriff.

PORTCULLIS MAN OF THE MATCH.

Gary Steward’s 76 not out and Brian Harper’s 4-33 would on any other day probably win the man of the match. Gary’s innings was a huge foundation to the outcome of the match whilst Brian’s timely four wicket intervention saved Portcullis chasing a score in excess of 270. However only one man takes the honours for the day – OWEN THORPE. That knock of 108 was full of classy stroke play with not a false shot on view. A serene a 100 as you’ll ever likely to see. He deserved his cold pint from the pockets of the Fat Controller and the Hairy Biker in the Inn At The Park afterwards.

AGSFP’s MAN OF THE MATCH.

AMAN SOOD takes it for his knock of 65 and his 1-34 edging the impressive Elia Gubbala who had a top knck of 61 and bowling returns of 1-50.

PORTCULLIS CATCH OF THE MATCH.

A dead heat between PAUL BROWN and JAKE DAWSON. Dawson’s running catch was significant and athletic whilst Brown’s front dive reaction catch showed impressive flexibility a man half his age would be proud of!

Wednesday, 09 May, 2018