A strong all round showing from Anand ensured another win
FPs picked up their 3rd straight win, this time by 10 wickets as they completely outplayed Grampian at Rubislaw. Harry Mapplebeck (1/10) and Connor McKinney (2/25) set the tone with a fine opening spell before Karan Anand (4/14) and Roland Knudson obliterated the middle and lower order for just 61. It took FPs just 37 balls to knock off the runs, skipper Swiergon mixing up the order to allow himself (21no) and Karan Anand (38no) some important time in the middle.
FPs won the toss again and chose to bowl and it soon looked a good choice as Anand caught a stunning effort at slip off Mapplebeck, Charley out for 4. FPs were forced into 3 changes with Clelland taking the gloves, Agha Haider brought in for a first start this season and Ranald Wilkie making his debut. Steinson, Senthil and Poosapandi were the men unavailable.
New man Wilkie almost made a dream debut throwing down the stumps but the batsmen George was adjudged to just be in. It mattered little as he was LBW next ball to McKinney for 8. McKinney soon had a 2nd as he clean bowled Vargese for 4.
Anand and Knudson replaced the opening bowlers and quickly rattled through the lower order. Babu was stumped superbly by Clelland for 11, the umpire doing an excellent job to adjudicate it correctly. Anand then had Gilbert easily caught by Morrison at point and had Gopinathan LBW for a duck. His 4th wicket was when he bowled Lambard for 4. He was to be denied a 5 for those as Knudson nipped in for 3 quick victims Paul LBW for 15 and 2 more LBWs as Grampian sportingly raised the finger 4 times in a game played in an excellent and fair spirit.
61 all out was miles under par and in fairness Grampian batted better than the total suggested and deserve great credit for one of the most honest umpiring efforts you could ever see. For FPs Mapplebeck was hugely unlucky to take just 1 wicket 6-3-10-1 and was well supported by McKinney 8-1-25-2. Their great opening spell allowed Anand 6-0-14-4 and Knudson 3.2-1-10-3 to really cash in. The FPs fielding was faultless and really kept thee pressure on Grampian.
With 2 short games before Grampian, Swiergon decided to give himeslf and Anand a bat and they made hay in a clinical display, smashing the bowling all round Rubislaw in the 6.1 overs that were needed. Anand was in excellent form clattering a 6 and 6 fours in his 38 not out and Swiergon hit 5 boundaries in his unbeaten 21.
Far tougher tests await FPs but it is a strong start to the season. On Sunday they face St Michaels in the CS Challenge Cup if the forecast bad weather allows.
Man of the Match
With 4 wickets and 38 not out, it has to be Karan Anand, but Mapplebeck and McKinney did bowl extremely well 1st up.
Champagne Moment
Karan Anand’s brilliant slip catch to set the ball rolling.
Scorecard AGSFPs v Grampian