FPs exited the CS Challenge Trophy at Stenhousemuir as they batted in a similar manner to how Aberdeen FC played when they visited the same town in 1995. Having bowled and fielded well in restricting the home side to 140 for 9 in their 40 overs, the chase started disastrously as the top 3 of Nattrass, Knudson, and Sood all made ducks as FPs slumped to 1 for 3. Rob Swiergon with 26 and Conner McKinney 14 briefly offered signs of a revival but after they fell, FPs crumbled to 57 all out. Despite missing some key players it was a disappointing batting effort.
The bowling was resilient, as Thomson was lost to injury after 5 overs and Mahesh didn’t bowl a ball injuring himself fielding. Things got worse when Sam Knudson was banned from bowling for 2 full tosses and it meant McKinney and Swiergom were pitched in for long spells bowling 14 overs between them. The bright spot for FPs was the fielding with a fine catch taken by Macklin and 2 excellent runouts by Swiergon and McKinney. Also, plaudits to 12th man Faraj Monnapillai who’s quiet Sunday was rather interrupted by the injuries and he fielded manfully in the heat.
Despite the result, it was an enjoyable day out against a friendly team with a great setup in front of some enthusiastic locals enjoying the bar facilities on a bright and sunny day. FPs next face Stoneywood Dyce in the T20 Scottish Cup on Thursday before league action at Allan Park against Master Blasters.
Stenhousemuir 140 for 9
Sultan c Macklin b Poosappadi 10
Rodgers b Monnapillai 5
Grant run out (McKinney) 20
Lister b Thomson 13
Hollis c S Knudson b Swiergon 11
Townsend run out (Swiergon) 3
Laing c Swiergon b Sood 32
Thakur st Morrison b Sood 19
Quinn st Morrison b Sood 2
Atif not out 2
McKay not out 1
Extras 22 (3b, 2lb, 13w, 4nb)
FPs Bowling
Prash 8-0-31-1
Monnapillai 7-0-30-1
Thomson 5-1-11-1
Sood 6-1-17-3
Knudson 0.4-0-5-0
McKinney 6.2-1-24-0
Swiergon 7-2-17-1
FPs 57 all out
Nattrass c Atif b Thakur 0
Knudson c Grant b Thakur 0
Sood b Lister 0
Swiergon c Lister b Grant 26
McKinney b Lister 14
Morrison c McKay b Atif 4
Monnapillai LBW Grant 4
Poosappadi c McKay b Grant 0
Macklin not out 2
Challa b Grant 0
Thomson c Thakur b Grant 0
Extras 7 (4lb, 2w, 1nb)
Stenhousemuir Bowling
Lister 8-5-5-2
Thakur 6-2-9-2
Atif 4-0-20-0
Hollis 6-3-10-0
Grant 5-2-8-5
Sultan 1-0-1-0
