A fine all round performance from Karan Anand who hit an unbeaten 48 and took 2 for 15 in 10 tight overs secured an opening day win for FPs against 
Mannofield. It was a somewhat rusty performance as having restricted the visitors to 147 for 8, FPs slipped to 73 for 5 and 107 for 6, but a composed unbeaten stand of 41 between Anand and Mapplebeck ensured FPs a 4 wicket win.
FPs despite losing 2 players to a new club, lined up looking fairly strong with Rory High and Sam Knudson available and fast bowler Martin Worsley debuting as FPS lined up Morrison (c), Keith, Swiergon, Senthil, Anand, Davey, High, Mapplebeck, Worsley, Knudson, Hameed. FPs won the toss and elected to field on a damp surface which had held up well considering the recent weather.
Mapplebeck took the new ball with Worsley and the latter struck in his 1st over, Cameron (3) getting a leading edge where Davey took a simple catch. The openers kept it tight as Mannofield moved to 27 for 1 in ten overs, when Worsley struck again, Morrison diving to his left down the legside to claim a good 1 handed catch as Indika departed for 8. Munro looked to take on Mapplebeck but was comprehensively yorked for 5 as Mannofield regressed to 29 for 3 in the next over.
After 14 overs it was 37 for 3 and FPs made a double bowling change bringing on Hameed and the leg spin of High. They were unable to make the breakthrough though for a prolonged period as Richards and Horne batted with great care in adding 59 in 17 overs, mainly looking to defend but dispatching the bad ball when it arrived. Anand replaced Hameed in search of a wicket but it was High the broke through when a long hop was smashed at short mid wicket where Knudson held an excellent catch, Horne departing for a well played 23. High took just 5 balls to remove N Elliott, the batsmen failing to pick the googly and being bowled off stump for a duck – Mannofield 88 for 5.
It was 90 for 7, 4 balls later as Anand’s tight spell brought him 2 wickets in two balls, 1st an outswinger bowling D Elliot off stump for a duck and next ball a perfect inswinger pinning Van Der Merwe LBW for a duck. Any hopes FPs had of wrapping up the innings was thwarted by Richards who was still batting on and Herd who played some enterprising shots as the pair added 35, until Herd (12) hit a spiraling catch to Senthil, who made it look far easier than it was as Worsley claimed a 3rd victim.
A partially injured Steve Elliott came in 9 places lower than usual and he and Richards combined well to add an unbroken 27 for the 8th wicket as Mannofield posted a completive 147 for 8 on what had been a slow outfield. For FPs the bowling figures were Mapplebeck 8-1-18-1, Worsley 9-0-34-3, Hameed 7-0-27-0, High 10-1-31-2, Anand 10-0-15-2 and Knudson 1-0-8-0. Some wayward bowling meant that extras totaled 33.
After tea, Morrison and Keith opened and made a characteristically fast start with some sharp running and crunching boundaries from the bat of Keith. They raced to 31 in 3 overs, when against the run of play Morrison missed a flick to leg and was bowled off his pads by M Elliott for 6. Keith continued on his way, but Swiergon was superbly caught in the gully by Indiaka for just 1 and Senthil was caught at the wicket by Herd 1st ball as Munro claimed a wicket in his first over as FPs suddenly found themselves 45 for 3 in 7 overs.
Things went from concerning to fairly bad as Keith was adjudged LBW to M Elliott for 31 (4×4), the batsmen barely able to believe it or haul himself back to the pavilion. Davey and Anand then began a period of consolidation and found Horne particularly hard to score off as the wily off spinner reeled off 5 maidens on the trot, Davey falling during the spell chopping on for 11. At 73 for 5, it was anyone’s game but with Anand looking in control, defending stoutly and dispatching the bad ball, FPs looked like they were just on top.
High had joined Anand and they added 34 in 10 overs, when High bunted a catch straight back to Horne to fall for 13. With 41 still needed Mapplebeck arrived at 8 and immediately looked in good form, pushing 1s as FPs looked to accumulate and see off Horne. It was the introduction of Indika that suddenly then propelled FPs towards victory as Anand took a liking to his bowling clubbing a huge straight 6 and 3 other boundaries as his 3 overs disappeared for 28. Anand was in the zone now and smashed another big six over mid wicket as FPs suddenly cantered across the winning line, a stand of 41 seeing them to victory, Anand ending up 48 not out (3×4, 2×6) and Mapplebeck 12 not out (1×4).
Overall it was an encouraging start to the new season, but against next weeks opponents Ellon, FPs will need to tighten up their bowling and the top order will need to bat with more diligence. The game was played in a very good spirit, with Mannofield fielding a umber or promising young players in their line-up, all of who made a contribution to the game.
Man of the Match – Karan Anand for a tigh 10 over spell and a match winning unbeaten 48.
Mannofield
Batsman How Out Bowler Runs 4s 6s
Cameron c Davey Worsley 3 0 0
Indika c Morrison Worsley 8 1 0
Richards not out 48 3 0
Munro bowled Mapplebeck 5 0 0
Horne c S Knudson High 23 1 0
N Elliott Bowled High 0 0 0
D Elliott Bowled Anand 0 0 0
Van de Merwe LBW Anand 0 0 0
Herd c Senthil Worsley 12 1 0
S Elliott not out 12 2 0
M Elliott
114
Extras (3b, 3lb, 21w, 6nb) 33
Total 147 for 8
Bowler O M R W WD NB
Mapplebeck 8 1 18 1 2 0
Worsley 9 0 34 3 13 3
Hameed 7 0 27 0 5 0
High 10 1 31 2 0 3
Anand 10 0 15 2 1 0
S Knudson 1 0 8 0 0 0
AGSFPs
Batsman How Out Bowler Runs 4s 6s
Keith LBW M Elliott 31 4 0
Morrison*(w) Bowled M Elliott 6 1 0
Swiergon c Indika Munro 1 0 0
Senthil c Herd Munro 0 0 0
Anand Not Out 48 3 2
Davey Bowled Horne 11 1 0
High c & b Horne 13 1 0
Mapplebeck Not Out 12 1 0
Worseley
S Knudson
Hameed
122
Extras (1b, 2lb, 15w, 8nb) 26
Total 148 for 6
Bowler O M R W WD NB
Van de Merwe 4 0 31 0 2 0
M Elliott 7.2 0 40 2 1 8
Munro 4 0 9 2 4 0
Horne 8 5 4 2 0 0
N Elliott 5 0 31 0 8 0
Indika 3 0 28 0 0 0
AGSFPs won by 4 wickets
