FPs stormed to a huge victory by 111 runs against Knightriders in a high scoring
Anand launched 6 6s
game at Rubislaw. Having been put in to bat, FPs racked up 285 for 9 as Karan Anand smashed 116 off 76 balls and Rob Swiergon struck a composed 84. Anand then caught a catch and claimed 3 for 33 as Knigtriders were dismissed for 174, John Thomson and Sajid Hameed both claiming 2 wickets.
Swiergon made a patient 84
FPs made 4 changes with Morrison, Senthil, Mapplebeck and Moir replacing Clelland, Keith, McDonald and Sam Knudson. The full line-up was Morrison, High, Swiergon, Senthil, Anand, Moir, Davey, Nattrass, Hameed, Mapplebeck and Thomson. Having lost the toss, FPs were not too upset to be asked to bat.
With no Keith, Morrison was joined by High to open the batting. They were on 18 in the 3 overs, when Morrison was bowled for 10 (2×4) by Vijayaray. It brought Swiergon to the crease and he embarked on an epic innings which held FPs together superbly. Both Swiergon and High looked in good order and added 69 in 15 overs, both cutting and driving well and making good use of the fast outfield. High had looked in no trouble at all but departed LBW to Kuraramsamy for 38 (4×4). Senthil then fell caught at the wicket for just 5 and suddenly FPs were rocking at 92 for 3.
They need not have worried though as Karan Anand came to the crease and embarked in a destructive knock blasting 116 off 76 balls as he and Swiergon added 173 in 22 overs. He played with great sense, only choosing the aerial route when hitting down wind as he blasted 6 maximums. However, when on single figures, he was dropped a simple catch in the gully. He and Swiergon rattled along, running well and regularly finding the boundary in a match winning stand.
Anand made 116
Anand brought up a hugely deserved century unleashing a brutal cover drive that rocketed to the fence. It was his 1st ton for the club, but the support from Swiergon was invaluable. Anand eventually fell caught on the long on boundary for 116 having hit 6 sixes and 10 fours. Swiergon was still going strong at the other end but quickly lost new partner Moir for a duck, LBW to Mallireddy.
Swiergon had passed 50 with careful judgment and excellent placement, but was beginning to run out of gas, when he was involved in a comical run out, Davey the unfortunate victim despite a valiant dive for 2. Swiergon looked set for a ton but he fell for 84 to Mallireddy, picking out deep square leg for a fine 84 from 104 balls with 8 fours, the score 274 for 7 in 43. More wickets clattered in the late rush for runs, Hameed run out without facing and Nattras bowled for 7 off the last ball of the innings, FPs very well placed at 285 for 9.
After tea Knightriders set off in pursuit of an improbable 286. They made fairly positive progress against opening bowlers Mapplebeck and Hameed. Despite a position of utter dominance, FPs were unhappy when Mapplebeck made a bit of a meal of a catch at square leg but eventually completed it to hand FPs what seemed to be the 1st wicket, only for the square leg umpire to make a surprising decision that the catch was not clean.
These things, experts say even themselves out, and FPs were perhaps a little fortunate to have Gopinathan LBW in Hameed’s next over, the ball grazing the leg stump. Two balls later they had another wicket, a comical run out, Senthil remaining calm and Morrison eventually removing the bails to remove Amritraj. Ashok was looking in great form and had looked very strong against High’s leg spin, but High persevered, flighting a leg break that Ashok miscued where Anand took a simple catch at mid off.
Anand replaced Hameed but was off colour with the ball and was perhaps in danger of replacement when suddenly he produced two great inswingers to bowl Majeed and Kumarasamy for 2 and 0 respectively. Anand then had 3 wickets in 4 balls as Vaduganathan was also bowled as Knightriders collapsed to 101 for 6.
Ramadas and Vallatharasn then combined to stave off the inevitable for a while adding 45 until John Thomson won an LBW decision against Ramadas for 14. Mapplebeck returned and after some close calls, castled Mallireddy for 1. Thomson got another LBW soon after against Vallatharan for 32 as FPs closed in on victory. After an experimental over of Senthil, a returning Hameed picked up the final wicket, another LBW as Knightriders were all out 174.
It was a convincing win for FPs and another good fielding display, the only chance missed by Morrison diving across 1st slip, assuming you don’t count the Harry Mapplebeck affair earlier in the innings. It means that FPs have now played 3, won 3 which is encouraging, although next week they face the biggest test so far against perennial title challengers Cults. The game was played in a good spirit, with both sides giving LBWs and generally being fair. The one incident was unfortunate and should not over shadow what was a game played in the right manner.
Man of the Match
Despite a superb 84 from the vice Captain Swiergon, there is only 1 man that it can go to and that is Karan Anand for a brilliant century and 3 wickets.
