FPs produced a poor performance with the bat to be dismissed for just 100 in 25 overs as they blew a golden chance to reach the Aberdeenshire Cup Final. It was probably 60 runs short of par and allowed Cults to bat sensibly to slowly chase down the runs needed with 5 overs to spare. Only a belligerent 29 from McDonald and a composed 24 from Tenneti gave FPs hope with the bat, but 3 wickets each for Meghani, Anderson and Barman ensured Cults were always on top.
FPs made 2 changes from Saturday with Roland Knudson and John Waldron replacing Dave Bishop and Arul Senthil. Morrison lost the toss and was not too upset to be asked to bat. The skipper opened with Waldron and was dropped a sitter behind the stumps, but could not take advantage being bowled soon after by Forbes for 10. Waldron followed in the next over edging to keeper Goulding off Meghani for 8.
Tenneti and Booth boosted the score to 41, but Booth could only muster 15 easily caught by Forbes off Anderson. Davey soon followed, extremely displeased about the LBW he received to record a duck leading FPs 46 for 4. It brought McDonald to the crease and he launched his usual counter attack, dominating a 40 run stand with a quickfire 29 with 5 fours and a straight six, but fell to the last ball of Meghani’s spell.
It sparked a huge collapse as the last 5 wickets fell for 14, Vijapur (2), Sam Knudson (1) and Stuart all falling to Barman and Tenneti (24) and Mapplebeck (4) falling to Anderson. It was a hugely disappointing score for FPs and it was a disaster to leave 15 overs unused. The Cults bowlers however bowled well, wicket to wicket and Forbes deserved better than the 1 wicket he took.
Needing only 101, Cults decided to take the slow and steady appraoch and the initial tentative approach gave FPs a wicket in the 1st over, Vijapur clean bowling Anderson who stayed back in his crease. However, they could not claim any other early wickets, and Cults had reached 34 when Barman had a smash at Vijapur and was caught at deep point by McDonald. Soon after it was 44 for 3 as Booth claimed a fantastic leg side catch behind the stumps to hand Roland Knudson a wicket.
FPs sensed they were still in the game as Cults were just behind the rate, but a good stand between Morrison and Govinda ensured Cults were in the final as they added 51 despite Morrison trying 6 bowlers to prize out a wicket. Eventually they did strike Sam Knudson claiming 2 wickets in 3 balls, Morrison (37) and Forbes (2) both out LBW.
It was however too little too late and Cults brought up the winning runs off Tenneti bowling his 1st recorded spell for the club. With the bat it had not been a great weekend for FPs, but they will be buoyed by their bowling ahead of a clash with league leaders Mannofield next week.
