Swiergon played a captains knock in a losing effort
AGSFP 1st XI took on a Bon Accord team looking to impose some revenge after being dethroned as Grade 1 Champions by a youthful FP’s XI.
On a glorious day at the links and with top spot in Grade 1 up for grabs, the prospect of a fascinating game full of twists and turns was in order. FPs lined up Keith, Clelland, Steinson, Swiergon, McKinney, Anand, Senthil, Mapplebeck, Prash, Roland and Thomson, Winning the Toss (6/6) Swiergon asked the home team to bat first, on what looked a very used deck.
Bon Accord Opened with Awan & Bashir and a combination of loose balls and risky shots allowed the two to power to 47 before Awan was well caught by 
Steinson off the bowling of Prash for 24, Mirza was the next was to grace the wicket but he did not last long LBW to Thomson for 5. Some controlled bowling allowed skipper Swiergon to assert some pressure in the field and the next wicket swiftly fell, Bashir bowled Thompson for 29. Haider hit some lusty blows before Steinson caught him for 21 off the bowling of Thomson, new batsmen Win proved there was runs to be had if you knuckled down, he dually went about his business blocking the good balls and punishing the bad ones. He along with S.Ahmed & H.Ahmed went about building a strong foundation for Bons finally falling for a well-made 56 with the score 153/8. Bons lower order offered some resistance Malik and Gopinan offing most making 18 & 19 respectively.
Bon Accord made 190 AO and FPs knew that it would be a hard chase but if they got on with it, they could knock it off.
FPs run chase fell in the second ball, Keith seeing the base of his middle stump broken by a length ball that jagged back. Steinson joined Clelland and took advantage of some rather poor bowling plans, he quickly moved to 21 taking full advantage of the short boundary until he was trapped LBW by a daisy cutter off the bowling of Malik. Swiergon & Clelland attempted a rebuild, with the ball, doing a fair amount both batsmen watched the ball patiently, Unfortunately Clelland chipped to Win at Mid-off off the bowling of Malik for 3. McKinney joined Swiergon and the two played some shots before McKinney was adjudged LBW for 9. Super star Anand joined the skipper but failed to impress falling for 3 a good high catch taken by Awan off the bowling of Bashir. Senthil was in and out bowled middle stump first ball not offering a shot, Mapplebeck was next to follow after pulling his first ball for 4 he then played back to a ball that kept low and was bowled by Awan for 5, Prash was Awan’s next victim out for 0 bowled by a good ball.
Swiergon who had not faced a ball in the space of ten minutes had watched the score fall from 61/4 to 72/8 and was starting to fear the worst. Fear not, the home of the cover drive, when wisdom wanted a photo of the batsmen who plays the best cover drive they need look no further then Roland Knudson, class from the core. Along with Swiergon they knuckled down, playing straight and getting forward with Knudson taking some horrible blows, both batsmen showed their skill dispatching the bad balls and taking the 1s & 2s on offer, together they set about making a more respectable score and with the score on 130, there was a few twitchy bums on the Bon Accord team. With the run rate, slowly getting away from them, Knudson’s luck ran out and Bashir of the bowling of Malik for a run a ball 36 caught him. Swiergon who was himself playing a captains innings trying to get FPs over the line but eventually fell for a valiant 67 LBW to Malik, FPs finishing up on 155.
FPs will rue the chance to go top of the league on a day they really should have done better. In the field 30 runs less and the target would have been a lot more achievable with the surface provided, with the batting Skipper Swiergon will be hoping his batsmen apply themselves and show the skills they possess against Academy this week. First, they take on Montrose in the 2 Counties Cup at Rubislaw on Thursday.
Man of the Match
Rob Swiergon for his captain’s knock.
Champagne Moment
Roland Knudson’s bravery to try to pull off an improbable win.
