Arul Senthil made an excellent 68 in FPs attempted chase
FPs and Bon Accord played out an enthralling game with 530 runs scored, as Bon Accord edged out FPs by just 12 runs despite setting an improbable 272 for victory. After Fazal Awan made a brilliant and faultless 109, Bons looked well on course but Arul Senthil hit an excellent 68, Fraser Proud struck 47 and Karan Anand 70 as FPs did their upmost to chase it down. The game was only settled in the 2nd last over when the well set Anand was given out LBW to Awan who also captured 3 other victims. It knocked FPs off top spot with 6 games remaining, meaning they almost certainly have to win every remaining game to have a chance of the title.
FPs lined up Keith, Morrison, Swiergon (c), Senthil, Proud, Anand, Mapplebeck, Challa, Clelland, Prash and Thomson. FPs won the toss and put the visitors in. FPs struck two early blows either side of a brief rain shower, Mapplebeck pinning Haider LBW for 4 and then Challa took a wonderful catch on the cover boundary to remove Mirza for just 4. The 3rd wicket arrived with the score on 46, Karan Anand winning an LBW decision against Ash Bashir.
Bon Accord then consolidated and at drinks were well placed at 95 for 3, Ahmed surviving a run out the ball before drinks leaving FPs fielders in complete disbelief. He was on 8 at the time and went on to make a composed 48 surviving a dropped catch at slip by Anand as he and Awan build a very good partnership.
Awan had batted beautifully and took no risks, seeing off a plethora of bowlers, as FPs tried everything. He did lose partner Ahmed with the score on 175, well run out by the bullet arm of Challa, but raised his deserved century soon after as Bon Accord pressed on. He fell soon after well caught at long on by Proud off Anand for 109.
Akhlaq hit some good blows late on in making a rapid 49, losing Shk Ahmed in comical fashion to a run out. Karan Anand gathering it up off his own bowling and lobbing into the stumps like a dart, when he could have strolled up and removed the bails at his leisure. It meant that Bon Accord had made a very big score of 271 for 6.
While the batting was excellent, FPs will feel they could have bowled straighter. Prash was probably the pick of the bowlers despite not getting a wicket with his 9 overs for 41, which contained the only 2 maidens. Elsewhere, Mapplebeck 9-0-50-2, Anand 10-056-2, Challa 4-0-27-0, Proud 9-0-50-0, Morrison 1-0-10-0 and Thomson 3-0-29-0 completed the bowling figures.
FPs chase started badly as Keith played on for a duck 3rd ball to Mirza and
Swiergon is bowled for 2
Swiergon was bowled by a good inswinger from Awan as Bon Accord took complete control at 9 for 2. Morrison and Senthil however weathered the storm of some excellent new ball bowling and while they only dragged the score to 15 in the 1st 10 overs they did at least keep the good balls out.
Senthil survived a confident caught at the wicket appeal and Morrison seemed to be finding his range with 3 boundaries, when he was bowled off his pads by Akqlaq for 17, FPs 32 for 3. Senthil found a good partner in Proud who looked in good form scoring fluently all round the wicket. Slowly but surely they dragged FPs back into the contest, Proud running well and Senthil playing some big shots. Having reached 68 though, Senthil, tried one big shot too many and was well held by Awan at mid off, Gopinathan with the wicket.
Leading run scorer Anand joined the fray and he and Proud looked assured, Proud falling against the run of play, Awan claiming a good caught and bowled for 47, FPs 159 for 5. Mapplebeck and Anand kept FPs in the unlikely hunt, leaving 72 runs needed from the final 8 overs as the score rose close to 200. Anand had two lucky escapes twice put down on the boundary looking for big shots, but Mapplebeck’s good running kept the power hitter on strike regularly. On 212, FPs lost Mapplebeck for an assured 21, LBW to Akqulak, but new man Challa kept the momentum up launching a huge six over square leg, after the visitors had elected to pull the field in. He made 12 as FPs reached 237, bowled by Awan. Clelland then fell run out 1st ball for 1 as FPs were left needing 34 from the last 3 overs. Anand and Prash managed to gather 11 from the 43rd, leaving 23 from 12 balls. After a dot and a 2, the game was up off the 3rd ball, Awan winning an LBW against Karan Anand for 70, the FPs vice captain distraught at the decision as he hauled himself back to the pavilion. It left too much for Prash and Thomson to do and Thomson fell off the last ball of the innings, caught by Malik for 4 as FPs finished on 259 all out.
It was a very competitive game played out to the fullest by both sides, with Bon Accord just doing enough to win, mainly thanks to Fazal Awan’s all round efforts. It knocks FPs off the top and leaves the title race wide open. FPs now absurdly face 5 successive away games, all of which look tough, starting against in form Cults at Allan Park next weekend. Before this, they once again face Bon Accord on Monday night in the Turriff Cup 20/20 at Sheddocksley.
8848 Man of the Match
In terms of the game for his century and 4 wickets it has to be Fazal Awan but the FPs man of the match is Arul Senthil for a brilliant effort in making 68 to give FPs a chance.
8848 Champagne Moment
Mahesh Challa’s huge 6 over square leg.
Photos from this game and a number of others in Grade 1 can be found at the following link https://www.flickr.com/gp/gillesgardner/rx372P credit to Gilles Gsrdner for his excellent work.
