Morrison drives for 4 in semi final
A brave effort from an under strength FPs was not quite enough to secure the 20/20 Turriff Cup on finals day at Dyce. Having edged past Crsescent in the semi thanks to 36 not out from skipper Geoff Morrison and some sublime fielding from Sajid Hameed, FPs were always behind the rate chasing 129 in the final on a wearing pitch. Vijay Vijapur battled hard with 28 not out and Chris Clelland made 23 not out as they shared an unbeaten 38 for the 9th wicket, but they fell 9 short and Mannofield were deserved winners.
On finals day FPs were without, Alex Keith, Harry Mapplebeck and Rob Swiergon who had been mainstays of the side and lined up with 2 schoolboys in their 11 in Rutwik Hegde and Rajaa Monnapillai. The full line up was Senthil, Hegde, Tenneti, Anand, Morrison (c), Vijapur, Hameed, Sam Knudson, Monnapillai, Clelland (w) and Thomson.
FPs lost the toss against Crescent and were asked to bat on a flat but slow surface. Hegde was run out early for 2 and Senthil was bowled for 20. Tenneti was bowled as was Anand and FPs were 53 for 4 in 8 overs. It brought Morrison and Vijapur together and they shared 40 with both men finding the boundary until Vijapur was LBW for 18, Hameed was bowled for 5, but Knudson hung in with Morrison as they ran well to push the score past 100, Knudson hitting a fine straight 6. He also fell LBW, before Monnapillai along with Morrison helped FPs to 126 for 7 from 15 overs (the match having being reduced). Morrison ending with 36 not out (5×4).
Crescent started aggresively and raced along at 11 an over, Ahmed hitting some fine shots. He was in danger of taking the game away from FPs, when Morrison was able to hold a chance above his head, back on the rope off Anand’s bowling, Crescent 59 for 1. Moments later, attempting 2 to Sajid Hameed on the extra cover boundary, Gupta was run out by a direct hit for 11 as FPs seized control.
Some excellent fielding by Hegde secured another run out, Awan stranded as Clelland whipped off the bails. A 3rd run out followed as once more Crescent took on Hameed and his bullet arm from the boundary did for Tasmeen as Crscent slipped to 77 for 4. Monnapillai had Sharma well caught by Senthil for 9, before Clelland superbly stumped Thangaraj for 11 off Thomson. Clelland throughout the day was superb behind the stumps and with the Grade select recently naming a team with no wicketkeeper, they may wish to take a look.
FPs continued to claim wickets as Hegde struck when Knudson held a high catch to remove Mughal for 9. Anand ensured there was no let up by bowling Suri and Razzaq, meaning Cresecnt needed 13 from the last over. The game seemed up when Knudson settled under a high catch, only to spill it, but Vijapur held his nerve to ensure Crescent came up 6 runs short.
For FPs the bowling figures were Hameed 3-0-26-0, Vijapur 2-0-23-0, Anand 3-0-21-3, Monnapillai 2-0-10-1, Thomson 3-0-21-1, Hegde 2-0-19-1.
FPs made no changes for the final and chose to bowl on a dying wicket. Overall they did well to restrict Mannofield to 128 for 8 in 20 overs. Indi was well caught by Hegde off Thomson for 12 and Thomson then claimed Wood 1st ball as Mannofield slipped to 20 for 2 in 4 overs. Horne 35 and Findlay then combined to add 40 before Findlay was bowled comprehensively for 31 by Hameed. Hegde bowled Johnston for 9 and Monnapillai bowled Van Oorschot for a 2nd ball duck. Mannofield 100 for 5 in the 15th. Some fine late hitting by Barnes 24* ensured Mannofield reached 128 for 8, Horne eventually falling stumped off Monnapillai and Jamieson bowled by Anand.
Bowling wise, each bowler did well, Vijapur 3-0-12-0, Thomson 4-0-18-2, Knudson 2-0-13-0, Hameed 3-0-14-1, Anand 4-0-28-1, Monnapillai 2-0-18-2 and Hegde 2-0-11-1.
FPs were soon in trouble at 30 for 5, Senthil 1, Hegde 8, Tenneti 1, Anand 0 and Morrison 8 all falling cheaply. Hameed blasted 16 quickly before being bowled by Anderson and Sam Knudson was plumb LBW for a 1st ball duck. Monnapillai went for just 3 and it meant FPs were 82 for 8, needing 43 from 4 overs. Despite the best efforts of Vijapur 28* and Clelland 23* (3×4), FPs left themselves too much to do and came up short.
It was a very enjoyable day, played in a good spirit and despite the disappointment of losing, Mannofield were deserving winners. If he is to be believed it was also Graeme Johnstone’s of Mannofield’s last game in the grades, so it was perhaps fitting he bowed out with a trophy, he has always been a hard but fair competitor who has been keen to see justice done while putting others in his team ahead of himself and has proved a tough opponent for FPs to defeat over the years. For FPs there were many positives on the day and throughout the season and if they can make a better start next season, there is a good chance they can finish a little higher up the league.
