FPs contrived to lose a low scoring affair as Inverurie’s modest 120 for 9 proved sufficient to see off FPs by 14 runs. Some excellent fielding and bowling by Inverurie combined with some poor batting for FPs handed Inverurie a victory which had seemed inconceivable at tea. George Hadden rode his luck in a less than fluent 48 and Coutts and Jessiman combined with 7 wickets as Inverurie showed great determination andgrit. After a good all round bowling display only Malik’s gutsy 26 offered any real hope for FPs.
Knudson won the toss and made 1 change to last weeks side Youles replacing Eagles who was unavailable. Lord and Miller opened the bowling and their opening spell was excellent as only 21 came from the opening 13 overs. Miller who had been unlucky not to get a breakthrough, regularly beating the bat and Morrison unable to cling onto to a leaping effort at mid wicket eventually got what he deserved in the 14th over as Parr nibbled a thin edge to Clelland. His replacement Rundell did not look comfortable and in Sam Knudson’s first over he was plumb LBW for a duck.
Skipper Knudson introduced himself and struck in his 3rd over bowling Martin with his quicker ball – 34 for 3. Norval and Hadden then consolidated with Morrison again unable to cling onto a tough Hadden chance at mid wicket andthen Budd dropping a sitter at cover as the score moved to 72 in 34 overs as Roland Knudson and Moir turned the screw. However, Knudson claimed his 2nd LBW, Norval adjudged out for 14 before the returning Miller clean bowled opener Hadden for a determined 48. Moir then dismissed the dangerous Coutts for 10 bowling him as he advanced and following a quick 20 run partenshiip Miller beat Dunderdale’s defences to bowl him for 13. 111 for 7.
Inverurie decided to bat the extra over and it worked well for FPs as Knudson returned with Miller bowled out to bowl Skevington and then Sam Knudson did well to run out Detrhaj off the final ball.
Overall 120 for 9 looked like a good effort from FPs as they bowled far tighter lines and despite 3 chances going down, fielded well on a difficult outfield. Roland Knudson 11-1-26-3 and Miller 12-2-25-3 were the pick of the bowlers but they were well supported by Lord 7-1-15-0, Sam Knudson 7-0-18-1 and Moir 9-0-33-1.
The FPs innings started well enough as they reached 28 for no wicket in 11 overs before Knudson fell bowled by Coutts. Youles promoted to 3 to try and get some quick runs soon followed for 3 bowled by Ewen. Moir joined Budd and the first ball after a rare drinks break brought Budd’s downfall superbly caught one handed on the boundary by Purr after he had seemed to misjudge the flight. Miller soon fell for 4 playing across the line as FPs slipped to 57 for 5. It was soon 69 for 6 as Morrison played a poor shot top edging an attempted sweep off Jessiman to Coutts to claim a simple catch.
Things looked bleak for FPs, but Clelland and Malik restored hope as they ran intelligently turning 1s into 2s and claiming the only 3 of the game. They had raised the score to 103 and needed just 18 to win from 7 overs when disaster struck as Clelland fell for 8 adjudged LBW to Coutts. This seemed to unsettle Malik who had batted with great judgement to reach 26 as after a failed reverse sweep, he elected to cut a ball on off stump to be bowled by Hadden.
This brought youngsters Knudson and Lord together but Lord was promptly bowled for 1 before last man Stuart suffered a similar fate for a duck as Coutts capped a great display with his 3rd and 4th wickets as FPs slumped to 105 all out.
It was a bitterly disappointing outcome for FPs who batted poorly with the exception of Malik but great credit must go to Inverurie who never gave up and bowled intelligently taking their catches well. It leaves FPs already in relegation danger with a tough test at Ellon next week, where it will be vital that FPs bat batter and start to take catches.
