FPs cruised to an 8 wicket win with more than 18 overs to spare as Dallas Moir unleashed an astonishing onslaught on the Queens Cross attack in an unbeaten 97 from only 66 balls. Veteran Moir, making a rare appearance, lined up beside his fit again brother Jerry Moir, with Simon Tomkins also making a very welcome return to the fold.Skipper Knudson called correctly and had no hesitation asking Queens Cross to bat on what is often a tricky Harlaw wicket. It was the returning Tomkins who took the new ball with James Lord and after a reasonably tight opening, the confident Jamieson started to go after the bowling, particularly strong against anything short of a length. Findlay joined in the fun as Queens Cross racked up 66 for no wicket in only 11 overs. FPs not having helped their own cause when MacDonald spilled a catchable chance at cover early on.
However, it was MacDonald who hauled FPs back into the match when he tempted Findlay out of his crease to have him expertly stumped by Clelland, standing up, for a well played 23. Jerry Moir was by now into the attack after a double change and he removed dangerman Jamieson with a slightly loose delivery which Jamieson could only direct in the direction of Eagles. Initially, he appeared not to sight it, but managed to dive forward claiming a good low catch to reduce Queens Cross to 66 for 2. They were soon 69 for 4 as first Moir had Blair Findlay caught by Clelland after a loose shot and then MacDonald had Shepherd caught by Roland Knudson at mid off for a duck.
MacDonald picked up his third wicket soon after with Russell brilliantly caught in the deep by John Lord. A diving effort on the run going to his right will be hard to beat for catch of the season. This left Queens Cross on 77 for 5 with Hutton and Murphy at the wicket.
After being beaten a number of times by Jerry Moir outside the off stump, Moir straightened his line to comprehensively bowl him leg stump for 5. Jamieson snr was the new batsman but he aimed a truly awful smash at Eagles and was stumped by yards. FPs had ideas of finishing Queens Cross off for around 100, but a useful partnership between Hutton and Bell carried the score towards 150 before Bell was caught by Knudson when Tomkins returned to the attack for 23. With his partner dismissed and batting with a runner, Hutton soon perished, bowled by Knudson for a well played 36. The innings closed on 152 when Tomkins bowled last man Taylor for 1.
Overall 152 looks a competitive score mainly thanks to the fast start and useful 8th wicket stand. James Lord was slightly off colour with 5 overs for 29, Tomkins bowled some good balls and will certainly be an asset this summer with 2 for 38 and Eagles and Knudson provided some tidy spin with 1 for 29 and 1 for 17 respectively. The star bowlers however were MacDonald with 10 overs 3 for 24 and the magnificent Jerry Moir whose 12 overs included 8 maidens as he picked up 3 for 9.
Lord opened the batting with Clelland and FPs were soon in trouble as first Clelland was caught down the leg side by Murphy off the bowling of Jamieson and then Muthu departed for a second ball duck caught by K Findlay at mid off, leaving FPs 15 for 2. Dallas Moir joined Lord at the crease and took some time playing himself in, failing to score from his first 11 balls. After 14 overs FPs had reached 27 for 2, but just 14 overs later 129 additional runs had been added as Moir got into full flow.
The introduction of Taylor seemed to be the catalyst, as Moir launched him for some enormous blows as he was hit out of the attack in 3 overs which cost 31 runs, mainly in boundaries. Kieran Findlay was next to have a bowl but threw in the towel after 1 over which went for 13. With Queens Cross clearly up against it, their captain with overs still to bowl, retired to deep mid wicket and left his team mates to try and stem the flow of runs. Next to have a crack was Blair Findlay but he was dealt with in a similar style but at least deserves credit for sticking at it for 3 overs which cost 25. The final bowler used was Bell and his 13 balls were also massacred in fine style by Moir as he conceeded 27. Moir hit the winning runs, not surprisingly a six to finish on 97 not out from 66 balls in 76 minutes. He hit 10 fours and 7 sixes.
This also meant the stand had been 129 unbroken and Lord deserves great credit for a very fine innings at the other end, where he played the opening bowlers with great sense early on and was happy to pick off the bad balls in a very fine 38 not out which contained 5 well struck boundaries. His blunting of the opening attack certainly allowed Moir free reign to dismantle the change bowlers. It could be some time before an FPs batsman plays a more destructive innings.
Next up for FPs is a tricky home match versus old foes Gordonians.
