FPs edged closer to safety as they dug in for a draw against an aggressive Cults side. Kapil Laghate hit a brilliant and chance less 128 not out to guide Cults to 209 for 9 after they had slumped to 53 for 6. FPs bowled and fielded well but could not stop him as only 2 other Cults players made double figures. FPs chase had started well in reaching 34 for no wicket but after collapsing to 52 for 6 they were indebted to a great stand of 58 between Jerry Moir and Roland Knudson. Gary Stuart and Zahid Khan then survived a late barrage to hang on for 23 deliveries to save the game.
FPs welcomed back Paul McDonald and Chris Clelland in place of Aly MacDonald and the injured John Lord and made the best possible start as James Lord’s opening delivery of the game was guided straight to Gary Stuart at point who claimed a good catch to remove Spearman. This brought Kapil Laghate to the crease and he looked composed from the start. With the score on 30 he lost his partner Devadas for 16 plumb LBW to Moir. Cults had only added 10 more when Induchandan edged a great ball from Lord to keeper Clelland. Laghate survived a close LBW shout from Moir before Moir was replaced by Eagles and Khan replaced Lord.
Khan was straight on the mark striking first ball, bowling Ajazi for 2 attempting a smash across the line. Eagles quickly dealt with Swanth bowling him for a duck and Cults were in deep trouble at 53 for 6 when Javed was easily caught and bowled by Khan. This brought Krishnamoorthy to the crease and he and Lagathe shared 66 in a stand dominated by Lagathe as he passed 50 and cleverly manouvered the strike to keep his partner 0ut of harms way. Eventually FPs did get the breakthough as Stuart ran out Krishnamoorthyfor 7 after some calm thinking off his own bowling.
Earman came in at 9 and continued to support Lagathe through to his 100 sharing 49 before he skied one to Moir for 13 off Gary Stuart’s bowling. Moir returned and Khan caught Meghani for 3 but by now Cults were up close to 200 and after a few more blows by Lagathe they declared perhaps a little late after 44 overs on 209 for 9. FPs let themselves down adjudged to have bowled 32 wides which greatly helped Cults’ score.
With news of Queens Cross scratching to Inverurie, FPs knew they needed to bat well to help their fight to avoid relegation. It had been assumed that Inverurie would beat Queens Cross anyway, but it did not reflect well on a once fine club in Queens Cross scratching both fixtures on a Saturday so they could fufill a 20/20 game on the Sunday. A team scratching in Grade 1 does not reflect well on Grades cricket and it should be of deep concern to the Grades powerbrokers.
None the less FPs started well moving to 34 in 11 overs with Morrison and Budd running well to grab quick singles and turn1s into 2s. Just when Budd was looking well set he was out to Sreedish smashing him straight to cover to depart for 16. Malik joined Morrison but Morrison fell 12 runs later for 15 LBW to Javed. Malik followed 3 runs later for 4 to a similar ball, Javed picking up a 2nd LBW – FPs 49 for 3.
It was soon 52 for 6 as McDonald was bowled 2nd ball for a duck and Eagles also went for a duck, bowled by Javed. Clelland suffered the same fate and FPs were looking down the barrel. Knudson joined Moir to try and save the game and survived valianty for 17 overs repelling a great spell by Javed and dealing with numerous bowling changes in fine style. A number of bowlers seemingly unaware that to be out LBW the ball requires to be hitting ths stumps enjoyed appealing at every opportunity but strong and sensible umpiring kept the game under control. After one quadruple appeal against Moir which was heading down the legside the umpires had to ask the vociferous appealing to be turned down a level.
Lagathe decided he had seen enough from behind the stumps and decided to have a bowl himself and delivered a rapid spell eventually removing Moir for 29 after he hit one straight up and was well caught. As is so often the case, 1 wicket brought 2 and Knudson was removed by one that lifted from a length gloving to slip to fall for a determined 12. This left FPs on 113 for 8 with 7 overs to survive. Lord hung on for 4 overs but was bowled by that man Laghate again meaning last man Stuart strode to the crease intent on overseeing another last wicket escape that he has become accustomed to delivering.
Khan and he batted with great care with Khan dominating the strike and Stuart looking composed under extreme close pressure. They safely survived with minimal fuss and few close things and gained FPs another 2 points which could be critical at the end of the season. It was a good game that FPs could have potentially won at one stage but were thankful for Moir and Knudson and then Stuart and Khan for gaining them a draw. Lagathe and Javed are both class acts on the field and performed very well for Cults. FPs travel to Banchory next week knowing they still need 9 points to survive.
One response to “FPs battle after Kapil masterclass”