Owen hits Century as Portcullis lose out in last ball thriller.

Sunday 20th April saw Portcullis take part in their second pre-season friendly of the season.

Following on from their opening friendly against Ellon, Portcullis took up the challenge against Gordonians 2nd XI.

This fixture had been planned the season before but a lack of players available put paid to the fixture being completed. Thankfully though Portcullis and Gordonians managed to get this fixture completed and as well they did as the match turned into a pre-season thriller!

Portcullis Progressive Captain Ronnie Falconer won the toss against his Gordonians counterpart Alan Seymour and put the Home team in. This was part of the plan as today’s friendly was about giving opportunities to players of both sides. Due to the numbers involved it was also agreed that the match would be a 12 – a – side, again for the same reasons.

Portcullis opened their bowling with Bob Adie and Richard Collinson whilst Gordonians opened their batting with Al Seymour and C Airey.

Portcullis started the stronger in the match. Adie opened with a maiden whilst Collinson, following Adie’s lead, kept the run flow tight as Gordonians struggled. The pair’s tight start was rewarded in the 7th over when Bob Adie’s leg stump ball was swept towards short fine leg where Paul Brown dived low to take a fine catch. Gordonians 26-1.

Despite some further scares, particularly with Collinson shaving the stumps on at least one occasion, Gordonians dug in and no further wickets were to fall.

Paul Brown and Simon Winstanley then replaced Adie and Collinson.

Brown was to strike first; bowling Gordo’s no 3 Aaron Mundin for 11. Winstanley was not to outdone by his bowling partner though and captured a couple of wickets for himself. First up he had Airey caught behind by Sahoo and then followed that up by capturing the wicket of Jones thanks to some alert fielding by guest player Nathan Tharanga.

At the twenty over mark things were looking healthy for Portcullis. A very much second string quartet of bowlers had risen to the task by restricting Gordonians to 54-4. With Jason Stark now at the crease Falconer felt it was the ideal opportunity to bring on Rob Owen and Karthik, a second guest player from Crescent to bowl.

Gordonians then took the game to Portcullis. Stark took to thrashing the ball around to all parts of the park as the run rate rose for the Home side. Some clever bowling by the nippy Karthik saw Dalgarno depart when a well-disguised slower ball bowled him.

This brought Scott Rowell to the crease and what followed was carnage. Rowell took the game away from Portcullis with some impressive hitting, joining Stark in taking the game away from the Portcullisians. The Green caps were to get some joy when Karthik induced Stark into swiping the ball towards mid-wicket where the third guest player Vikram Balankrishnan took a lovely catch.

Owen supported Karthik well but had no further luck, Falconer and Mitchell replacing the pair. Rowell’s eyes lit up at the slow medium filth by Falconer and took to cart him into the car park on more than one occasion. Mitchell gave more of a challenge to Rowell and Clark but the run-rate grew anyway. Falconer, fearing further damage to the vehicles, put Brown back on for the last two overs. Although this did not curb the run-rate that much it did save any further damage to the players vehicles.

No further wickets fell and Gordonians finished on 230-6 from their 40 overs. For Portcullis Winstanley took 2-13 whilst Karthik finished with 2-39. Brown finished with 1-33 and Adie 1-14.

After a lovely tea it was time for Portcullis to post a reply.

Portcullis opened their batting with Nathan Tharanga and Richard Collinson whilst Gordonians opened their bowling with Dorman and Jones.

Dorman was first to strike for Gordonians as Tharanga was caught and bowled in the 7th over. Sahoo soon followed him as he failed to trouble the scorers with Jones bowling the surprised Portcullis no3. Portcullis 17-2.

17-2 became 23-3 as Collinson, after a promising start, was caught from the bowling of Dorman, as he became his second victim.

Dorman and Jones then made way for Mohammed and Clark Things got worse as Brown, Adie and Elrick soon followed, as 23-3 became 26-6.

Had Betfair had betting in play the odds on a Portcullis victory must have been around 100/1!

Rob Owen then joined Vikram at the crease and at the 20 over mark Portcullis were 59-6. One insightful wag did point out, albeit sarcastically, that Portcullis were ahead of Gordonians at the same stage of their innings.

It seemed a switch was then turned onto Owen. A few initial ill-timed swipes were replaced by well-timed proper strokes and Owen, showing the class Portcullis knew he possessed, took apart the Gordonians bowling. He scored at a fantastic rate, at least the equal of Rowell before him, and even with the extra fielder peppered the boundary with consummate ease. His signature shot was a glorious drive through extra cover that brought up his 50 to raucous applause from the Portcullis brigade.

This seemed to gee up the solid Vikram Balankrishnan as he too joined the party that Owen started. Casual indifference from the Gordonians team was beginning to be replaced by rising panic as the outrageous score of 230 began to zoom into the Portcullis horizons. Owen, batting simply majestically, soon got to his 100, a pull through mid-wicket inducing a standing ovation from those who had the pleasure to watch this special knock. He immediately retired, just as his opponent Rowell did before him, to a rapturous round of applause from the raucous crowd.

Mitchell took his place, going in with the score on 201 for 6 and Portcullis requiring 8 an over. Balankrishnan in the meantime had got to his fifty with a well-timed pull through mid-wicket.

The pair marched on with little drop in momentum, despite Rowell being brought on to bowl with impressive pace.

The match went to the last over with Portcullis requiring 13 to win. Mitchell raised Portcullis’s hopes when the second ball of Campbell’s over was driven back over the bowler’s head towards mid-on for a spectacular six! The fourth ball was disaster though as Balankrishnan sensing victory pulled one towards deep mid-wicket’s throat. Dorman, steadying himself, held his nerve and kept himself within the boundary to take a superb catch to dismiss Balankrishnan for a fantastic 67.

Winstanley had the unfortunate task of going into bat with nerves jangling all around. With one ball remaining Mitchell needed to hit a six to win or a four to tie. The Gordonians team, respectful of their opponents, put every player bar the keeper back on the boundary. Mitchell drove the ball towards extra cover. Sadly it did not have the legs and Mitchell was caught in the deep.

Portcullis 226-8. A loss by 4 runs.

Handshakes were exchanged vigorously by both sets of players. Many remarked that this had been the best match they had ever played in. What had started as a innocuous friendly had finished as a 456 run frenzy with sixteen players bowling and 18 players batting.

It is a cliché but cricket WAS the winner.

PORTCULLIS MAN OF THE MATCH.

Rob Owen: a solid bowling spell was followed by a wonderful display of batting as he scored a wonderful first Century for Portcullis. He is also the lowest order batsman ever to score a 100 (batting at 8). A wonderful knock with no false shots. He made it look remarkably easy which is a true sign of class.

PORTCULLIS MINCE OF THE MATCH.

Ronnie Falconer- for taking himself off after 3 overs. Take your medicine man! Saving cars from getting damaged – what a lame excuse! Stay loyal to the SMF!

PORTCULLIS ILL-JUDGED COMMENT OF THE MATCH.

Whilst Owen was on 89 not out and jogging in a single one spectator commented that “they should have the run the first one harder” – REALLY! If this reporter ever got to 89 not out he would probably be on his hands and knees issuing the boak, never mind running quick singles!!

Tuesday, 22 April, 2014