Tenneti drives through the covers during his unbeaten 50
Pehlaj Tenneti hit another brilliant half century to ensure FPs gained some level of revenge for the 9 wicket loss to 2nd St.Ronald 3 weeks ago. He rebuilt the innings as FP chased down 110 for the loss of 5 wickets, after earlier Gary Stuart had rolled back the years with a stunning spell of 4 for 13 and Sam Knudson had dispatched the top order claiming 3 for 29 as 2nd St Ronald were bundled out for 109. FPs had made heavy weather of the run chase losing Morrison (5), Davey 0, Booth 0 and Senthil (3) to slump to 24 for 4, but 24 from McDonald and 19 not out from Mapplebeck and 53 not out from Tenneti ensured FPs claimed a vital win.
In a match played in somewhat better spirits than the last encounter, perhaps in part due to Ian Sutherland umpiring, FPs made 4 changes with Davey, Senthil, Mappleback and Stuart all returning, Eagles (injured), Vijapur (injured), Waldron (holidays) and Campbell dropping down to 2nds the men missing out. Morrison won the toss and invited 2nd St.Ronald to bat.
Sam Knudson opened from the Cromwell Road end with Harry Mapplebeck at the Harlaw Road end. Mappleback nearly dismissed Sunny early as McDonald made a fantastic attempt at short cover to catch a searing drive. However, it only took until the 7th over for FPs to break through, Amol (14) edging Knudson to Clelland and umpire Sutherland raising the finger. New man Khuram looked keen to up the rate but he was soon out for 13, skying to mid off where Morrison claimed a simple catch, Mapplebeck the bowler.
Knudson then got FPs a prize wicket as he bowled Mazam via an inside edge for 1, 104 less than last time the 2 sides met. It was soon 53 for 4 as new bowler Gary Stuart struck in his 1st over as he removed Zubeer having a smash but only hitting it high in the air to Sam Knudson at point. Sunny was joined by danger man Imran batting rather low in the order and they quickly added 26, Before Stuart bowled Sunny with a stunning slower ball out of the back of the hand for 24, 2nd St Ronald 79 for 5.
New man Ali was in a hurry and he was dropped 3 times by FPs although 2 of them would have been unbelievable catches. 1st Davey could not quite make the ground to a skier and the Tenneti diving full length could not cling on. The 3rd chance that went down was unusual as 2 FP fielders called it and then collided. However, 2 balls later Stuart dispatched his middle stump for 6. FPs were really on top now and Tenneti produced a smart piece of fielding to run out Vasie by the length of the pitch after a shambolic mix up.
Imran was now running out of partners and decided he had to go on the attack, but after a couple of boundaries he hit Roland Knudson straight to Sam Knudson on the mid wicket boundary where he took a simple catch. It was soon 105 for 9 as FP gained a rare LBW decision, Stuart picking up his 4th victim, Bashir for 9. Wishing a quick finish Sam Knudson was recalled and he took one ball to have Irun caught in the gully by Booth for 1 as St.Ronald were all out 109, well short of par.
Despite a few catches going down, it was an excellent performance in the field, with FPs only missing tough chances. Stuart bowled 9 superb overs to take 4 for 14 and Sam Knudson set the tone with 3 for 29 in 8.1 overs. Mapplebeck bowled with good pace taking 1 for 22 in 7 and Roland Knudson broke his recent drought with 1 for 42 in 8, claiming dangerman Imran.
With rain about FPs were keen to get on with things, but Davey opening in place of Waldron was out 1st ball caught by Imran at slip. Recent Grades select call ups Morrison and Booth both went quickly, the skipper top edging a pull to give Mazam his 2nd wicket for 5 and Booth edging to the keeper off Abid for a duck. When Senthil followed for 3, FPs were deep in trouble at 24 for 4.
Morrison mistimes a pull and is easily caught at point
Booth edges to the keeper for a duck
Man for a crisis McDonald strolled in to join the unflappable Tenneti and they steadied things with a stand of 40. McDonald hammering a huge six and driving a fine four, while Tenneti continued to flick, turn and nudge along, dispatching the bad balls for 4. In fact it was a surprise when McDonald chipped a simple caught and bowled straight to Sunny to fall for 24.
Any hopes that St.Ronald had that this would be a catalyst to get them back in the game were soon extinguished as Mappleback and Tenneti added 47 together with minimum of fuss.
Tenneti defends
They showed good awareness to turn 1s into 2s and Tenneti continued to dispatch any thing short or wide passing a chanceless 50 with a fine boundary. Mapplebeck then finished the game in style with two boundaries to end on 19 not out, Tenneti unbeaten on a match winning 53.
After some good recent performances which have led to defeats, it was very important for FPs to close the game out and after a bad start to the chase, it was encouraging that the middle order fired and once again Tenneti controlled the innings. Gary Stuart showed that the coaching from Jan Stander has been worthwhile as he produced a performance that everyone at the club knew was in him and Sam Knudson shrugged off last weeks unfortunate incident to produce another great spell.
FPs continue to show that despite being everyone’s relegation favourites that they wont go quietly and face a tough double-header next week at 1st St.Ronald and then Cults at home in the cup semi final.
