John Eagles and Zahid Khan combined to spin FPs to a 74 run victory as Eagles claimed 4 for 22 and Khan grabbed 2 for 15 on a turning wicket. The platform was set by an excellent 65 fromJohn Lord as FPs lost a glut of late wickets to make 159 for 9. Inverurie after reaching 41 for 1, imploded in spectacular fashion, being bowled out for 85 as FPs made a major stride towards safety.FPs were back to almost full strength with only keeper Clelland and Paul McDonald not available. FPs lost the toss and were asked to bat on a damp wicket, which had done well to cope with the morning deluge. Morrison and Lord made steady progress in the opening 8 overs before Morrison was adjudged LBW off Huxtable for 6. Budd replaced him and he and Lord shared 43 as Lord started to find the boundary lofting Morrison for 6. Just when he was looking to become established Budd was a little unfortunate to play on to Ewen for 15 – 56 for 2 in 23 overs.
Moir replaced Budd and he and Lord shared a watchful and match winning stand of 55, dominated by Lord, who hit a 2nd six and a five fours to pass 50. As FPs looked to push on Moir was the 1st of four run outs, unable to get back for 2 to be run out for 18. Lord soon followed, well caught on the boundary by Anchan for 65. Aly MacDonald replaced him and smashed his 2nd ball for 6 but was out next ball, LBW to one that may have sneaked past the leg stump – 131 for 5 in 40 overs.
With just 6 overs left, Malik and Eagles combined in an entertaining 18 run stand, both men finding the boundary before Eagles (18) was run out after a mix up. Malik (9) joined the run out club after a comical mix up with Khan and Khan got in on the fun run out for 6 as Inverurie continued to ground field superbly. Lord was the 9th out for 1 bowled for Jessiman off the final ball of the innings as FPs closed on 159 for 9. Given the tough pitch it was a very useful score, as long as FPs could safely defend the short boundaries.
They got the perfect start as Lord’s 2nd ball, which was a bit of a loosener was crashed straight to MacDonald at cover who gather in a good catch at the 2nd attempt – Inverurie 0 for 1. Lord the struggled to find his normal accurate line and length and was hit for 3 fours and a six by the dangerous Coutts. ironically these were to be Inverurie’s only boundaries. Stand in keeper Morrison failed to take a low chance of Moir and then Knudson dropped a very tough caught and bowled off his only over. After the one over delay while Khan was off the field he did take up the attack in tandem with Eagles and bowled a number of sharply turning deliveries.
But it was Eagles who broke through Randell adjudged LBW to Eagles for 18 in what must have been a tight call. Next ball MacDonald could not cling on diving forward to Huxtable’s mis controlled shot. Shortly after the key wicket of Coutts was taken as one of Khan’s very few loose deliveries, a half tracker was top edged out to Aly MacDonald on the boundary to take an excellently judged catch – Coutts out for 2p and Inverurie 53 for 3. Eagles soon dispatched Huxtable bowled behind his legs for 2. Catching machine MacDonald then bagged a brilliant reaction catch at cover as Murison fell for 5 off the bowling of Eagles.
His replacement Ewen was determined to play shots and after 1 huge charge Morrison appealed even more keenly than usual convined Ewen was out stumped but the square leg umpire did not agree. Khan however struck soon after at the other end bowling Achan with a big spinner 69 for 6 in 30 overs.
FPs were really in the driving seat now and needed 4 wickets in the final 14 overs and Eagles bagged his 4th clean bowling Anderson with one which turned sharply. Eagles and Khan completed magnificent spells of 12-2-22-4 and 12-5-15-2 respectively and Gary Stuart took up the attack. His 2nd ball produced a wicket as a high no ball was not collected cleanly by Morrison but he quickly gathered it in and threw from the ground on the advise of the quick thinking MacDonald up to the bowler Stuart who calmly collected and ran out Morrison who had charged up the pitch looking to pinch a single.
Veterans Ewen and Jesiman had their eyes still on a draw but Stuart struck in his 2nd over, Knudson claiming a fantastic catch above his head on the run – a real collectors item! Moir was recalled and he took just 3 balls to pin back last man Moore’s off stump for 1 as FPs celebrated a vital win and Inverurie crumbled to 85 all out from 39.3 overs.
It means FPs have some breathing space in the fight for survival and if they can play to their ability in the next two games they should manage to beat the drop. If Inverurie do go down, it will be a loss to Grade 1 as all 3 games between the sides this season have been played in a great spirit and both sides have enjoyed a beer after the matches and this is a great example of how Grades cricket should be played. Next week a tough text versus Cults awaits.
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