FPs finally managed to get their batting to fire as they cruised to a 101 run win against Fraserburgh after racking up 256 for 6. Fraserburgh were never in any danger of chasing the runs as they limped to 155 for 8 with only Corey Bowie 51 and Fraser Lawrence 57 attempting to chase down the target. For FPs Arul Senthil made 56, debutant Karan Anand hit 42 and there were contributions from all the batsman in a much improved display. A tight spell of 1 for 19 from Harry Mapplebeck and 3 wickets from Sajid Hameed and 2 from Roland Knudson ensured FPs were always in control.
FPs lost the toss and were not too upset to be asked to bat on a blustery day. They made 2 changes with Karan Anand making his 1st start and John Davey returning to the middle order. They lined up Morrison, Keith, Tenneti, Senthil, Anand, Waldron, Davey, Mapplebeck, Vijapur, Knudson and Hameed. Morrison returned to the top of the order and was dropped an utter sitter by Witt at point before he scored. Far from a role model in how openers should bat, he started to put bat to ball as he and Keith put on 59 for the 1st wicket. Morrison had hit 3 boundaries and looked well set when a good delivery from Gospel bowled him for 26 from 37 balls. Tenneti joined Keith and looked composed driving and cutting well and looking untroubled. Keith had hit 4 fours and a six and had looked untroubled in making 37, but was undone by a full delivery from Duthie and was bowled.
Tenneti fell soon after well bowled by O’Neill for 26 as FPs slipped to 107 for 3 in 26 overs. New man Anand joined Senthil and they combined in a rapid stand of 61 with both men hitting maximums. Senthil particularly severe on O’Neil as he raced along. He raised his 50 from 44 balls with a huge six but departed on 56, superbly caught by Witt off the bowling of O’Neill. New man Waldron wasted no time in getting into his stride and he and Anand ran well between the wickets during a quick stand of 39 as FPs passed 200. Anand went LBW for an excellent 42 from 33 balls attempting a reverse sweep against Henderson.
Davey joined Waldron and they ran Fraserburgh ragged in a 47 run stand in 7 overs with lots of quick singles and well judged twos interspersed with the odd boundary. Eventually their luck ran out as Davey was run out for 19, but by then FPs already had 254 and closed on 256 for 6, Waldron finishing unbeaten on 38.
Following tea, Bowie and Watson opened against Vijapur and Mapplebeck with Bowie looking to score quickly. Tight bowling from Mapplebeck restricted their progress and in his 7th over he produced an excellent yorker to bowl Watson for 2 and Fraserburgh were 36 for 1, Mapplebeck’s first 9 overs costing just 13. Knudson was on the money straight away with his off spinners and he took little time to dispatch O’Neill for 1 and Liam Bowie for a duck, both aiming ugly shots at flighted deliveries to be bowled.
New man Lawrence looked to up the rate and his partner Bowie raised his 50 with just 54 on the board. He was now the key wicket and Hameed got him with an outswinger which hit the off stump as Bowi fell for 51. Flowerdew did what he could to support Lawrence but was easily caught by Tenneti for 6 as Fraserburgh subsided to 77 for 5 in 28 overs. With the exception of Lawrence, who was playing superbly, the Fraserburgh innings was now lacking direction and Witt was unable to push the score along at all as scoring ground to a halt. Hameed appeared to have a 3rd wicket, when Morrison took a good low catch off a large edge but the umpire turned it down and batsman declined to walk.
Witt’s pain finally ended when he got another large edge down the legside and Morrison took a good catch, Witt this time walking for 8. Lawrence raised a fine fifty but his efforts were somewhat in vain and he fell in the final over for 57, Mapplebeck taking a good catch off Vijapur. Vijapur got another wicket 2 balls later Gospel edging behind to fall for an enterprising 21 as Fraserburgh closed on 155 for 8 as FPs ran out comfortable winners.
Apart from Bowie and Lawrence, Fraserburgh never really threatened the FPs total and a large part of this was due to FPs tight bowling. The final figures were Vijapur 11-0-57-2, Mapplebeck 10-5-19-1, Knudson 8-1-21-2, Hameed 12-3-29-3 and Anand 4-1-22-0. It was an excellent all round performance with all batsmen getting runs, a disciplined bowling performance and a good fielding display with no catches dropped. FPs will hope to build on the win next week as they face Banchory who although at the foot of the table are a very capable side.
6 responses to “FPs Cruise to big win”