Alex Keith had a memorable debut for FPs as he rolled back the years with a fluent 80 with the bat and a superb 6 for 30 with the ball as FPs were held to a disappointing draw at Inverurie. Having made 192 all out on a damp pitch, Inverurie batted out 49 overs to close on 176 for 8 as dropped chances and missed run outs proved costly for the visitors.
FPs lined up with Morrison, Keith, Booth, Williams, Senthil, McDonald, Parminter, Mapplebeck, Hameed, Sam Knudson and Roland Knudson. They lost the toss and were invited to bat, and despite their being an official advertised, there was no umpire present, so FPs expected the run of no LBWs from non neural umpires to extend into the 2014 season, which it of course duly did.
Morrison and Keith made a good start to the innings, taking a liking to Randall’s bowling, but mainly defending a good opening spell by Coutts. They progressed to 35 without alarm when in the 9th over a double blow was landed by the impressive Coutts. 1st Morrison hitting across the line to be bowled for 13 and thenBooth, who was somewhat out of practise caught and bowled for a 3rd ball duck, Coutts making good ground to claim a fine catch.
When Williams ran himself out, after some superb fielding they needed Keith and Senthil to rebuild the innings, but after a quickfire 11, Sentil pulled a short ball straight to square leg off Jessiman to reduce FPs to 75 for 4 in 19 overs. This brought the ever dangerous McDonald to the crease and he and Keith combined to add 71 in 10 overs as both launched into the bowling. Keith passed 50 with 2 powerful straight hits and McDonald launched 2 enormous sixes over mid wicket, and narrowly missed out on a 3rd with another big hit. It was therefore a surprise when McDonald fell caught on the deep midwicket boundary for 35 and then next ball Keith was caught on the cover boundary for a brilliant 80 (12×4, 1×6) in Norval’s 1st over, FPs now 146 for 6.
Mappleback quickly followed LBW for 5 to Norval and when Parminter was run out in disastrous circumstances FPs were 158 for 8. Hameed then rode his luck in smashing 21 in quick time, before he was also LBW. Sam and Roland Knudson then added 12 for the final wicket as FPs were all out 192. It was a good effort to pull the score back by Inverurie when Keith and McDonald were well set at 146 for 4, but overall 192 represented a reasonable total in 41 overs with FPs poised to declare in 42 regardless in the hope that Inverurie would try to take on the chase.
Hadden and Norval opened for Inverurie with Hadden looking to be the more cautious of the batsmen and Norval looking to attack. FPs felt they had good LBW appeals against both batsmen, especially one against Norval, but it was turned down. After just 2 overs of Hameed, skipper Morrison elected to bring on Williams and his opening spell of 6 overs were probing but returned no wicket for 25. Sam Knudson also bowled a tight spell of 6 overs conceding 15, but Inverurie looked secure. In fact it took till the 20th over until FPs created a meaningful chance, Mapplebeck attempting a hopeful bouncer that Haddin top edged to Senthil who completely out of character spilled a simple chance. The drinks break came and went and still FPs could not break through, but at least were keeping Inverurie well behind the run rate.
It took the introduction of Alex Keith, the 6th bowler used to break through, his 2nd ball which was somewhat short being shovelled straight down the throat of Sam Knudson at deep mid wicket who held the chance comfortably, Norval out for a good 56. By now Hameed was on at the pavilion end and he soon removed McLeod for a duck, bowling him via an inside edge. Despite being well placed at 89 for 2 in 28 overs, these quick wickets seemed to instigate the shutters going up and the game meandered slowly towards a draw as just 11 runs were scored in 10 overs, Hameed bowling 4 successive maidens.
Keith eventually bowled Coutts for 5 which injected some life back into the game as Randell and Hadden suddenly took 17 of one Williams over, both hitting 6s. Randell’s positive approach was soon ended by Keith as after Sam Knudson missed him off Williams, Senthil took a good catch to end his innings on 12, 147 for 4 in 43 overs. Hadden was still there having passed 50, but seemed to have limited confidence in his partners and despite finding the boundary a number of times, it seemed as if Inverurie were happy to get to 175.
Keith bowled Murison in the 45th over for 3 and in his next over bowled Anderson for 1. Williams eventually ended Hadden’s stay in the 48th over for 74 (12×4, 1×6) but it was all too late for FPs. Keith added some late drama as he claimed a 6th wicket, Booth superbly stumping Mitra for 1, but Keith was unable to claim wickets with either of the last 2 balls despite all 9 fielders around the bat and Inverurie closed on 176 for 8.
Overall the game was played in an excellent spirit and both teams will feel they could have won it. FPs should have won it, if they could have taken their chances and if Inverurie had been more aggressive earlier they would have chased the runs. To end up with 25 points from a drawn game is not a bad return, but it could have been better. Next week FPs face many people’s favourites for the title 2nd St Ronald, which is sure to be a tough game in more ways than one.
