On Saturday 28 May FP’s 2nd XI, colloquially known as the Grenades, faced a slightly weakened Queens Cross – Stoneywood Dyce team at Rubislaw in the Bon Accord Cup. The team sheet read M Barker (c), K Whyte, C Clelland (w), J Eagles, R Hegde, Jo Lord, P McDonald, B Manogna, F Mehmood, R Monnapillai, B Joseph.
Winning the toss, Barker chose to bat first, and openers Lord and Clelland took to the middle. Stately progress was made until the drinks break at 20 overs with the score at 56/1. Lord had been the only wicket to fall and with the Captain’s endorsement, Clelland and new batsman Hegde went into full 20/20 mode, moving the score along apace with some fruity boundaries.
Hegde and Clelland eventually gave up their wickets but not before scoring 35 and 52 respectively. Paul Mac also chipped in with a lively 25 before unfortunately missing a cheeky daisy cutter from Taylor. Frustratingly, as in a few recent games, the FP’s middle order went a bit missing and they stumbled rather than strode to a total of 159, failing to make use of all the overs, with the last wicket falling in the 37th. Of the final 7 batsmen, only Manogna made it into double figures.
For QX-SD best bowling figures went to Rosie with 5-44.
Despite having slightly under performed with the bat, FP’s still felt they would have enough bowling to defend the total. Resident bookie Eagles was refusing to give odds on an FP’s win, such was his confidence in a positive outcome.
Despite some positive innings from Chowdry (52), Akhtar (18) and Rosie (15), Eagles was to be proved right and QX-SD succumbed to FP’s pressure, being all out for 130 in the 38th over. Pick of the bowlers were Whyte with 3-22 and Eagles with 3-50, although Manogna was very unlucky not to take a wicket, bowling as he did with pace and discipline. FP’s fielding was much improved with catches sticking and a couple of run outs into the bargain.
Man of the Match – C Clelland, for a fine knock.
Champagne Moment – Mehmood’s running catch to dismiss danger man Butt.
