Cults edged out FPs in a tense low scoring affair in what FPs will rue as a real missed chance. Vijay Vijapur and John Eagles each claimed 3 wickets but a determined 35 from Spearman and a brisk 29 from Barman helped Cults post 130. Despite 44 from Davey and 24 from Blythe, 4 for 21 from Saraswat proved pivotal as Cults won by 19 runs.
FPs won the toss and elected to field and quickly removed dangerman Sree for a duck falling into the trap set at midwicket, miscuing Whyte straight to Booth. Gillanders quickly followed chipping Vijapur to Whyte at mid wicket for a duck, Cults 2 for 2. They were soon deep in trouble at 30 for 4 as Vijapur twice knocked out the middle stump, Saraswat 18 and Srinivason 2 the victims.
Spearman was dropped by Whyte and then by Knudson himself in Knudson’s first 2 overs and this allowed Spearman and Barman to combine in a 52 run stand until Booth who had bowled with pace get one past Barman to bowl him for 29. Cults moved to 110 with some good placement and the occasional big hit, but new bowler Eagles struck twice in his 2nd over Vijapur catching Spearman for 35 and Forbes departing for a 3 ball duck caught on the boundary by Booth.
Off spinner Davey then had Javaid plumb LBW with his 3rd ball and Eagles bowled Milne behind his legs for 1, before a comedy run out dispatched Meghani, Barker sharp in the field. This left Cults on 130 which was probably worth 30 more due to the slow and wet outfield.
FPs were confident in the chase but made a bad start, the high scoring Booth caught for a duck and Knudson adjudged caught behind despite the ball appearing to only brush his sleeve, FPs 4 for 2. Clelland battled hard but was caught at slip for 6. Blythe and Davey then combined to add 41, with some lusty hitting and smart running, but lost Blythe at a vital time bowled by Meghani for 24. The powerful McDonald then went in bizarre circumstances, run out having walked out of his ground after driving up to midoff – FPs 60 for 5.
Vijapur and Davey had batted sensibly to reach 83 but Vijapur trying to force the pace was bowled by Meghani for 6 and when Whyte was bowled for a duck, FPs needed 47 with only 3 wickets left. Barker could not hang around long and was bowled and the game seemed to be up when Eagles was bowled by Saraswat for 3 with still 30 needed.
Morrison and Davey easily got the 1st ten of them and an unlikely victory seemed possible, but Davey was the last to go, bowled by Megrani for an excellent 44 as Cults won a tight contest.
Overall it was an exciting game, which FPs were left to rue. Next week’s match now takes on added importance as FPs travel to Crathie in a match they really must win.
