Knudson was in fine bowling form
FPs cruised to an 8 wicket win by 430pm as they knocked over their hosts for 81 and chased the target down in the 18th over. Having put Masterblasters in, after the 1st over going for 21, wickets fell regularly with Roland Knudson (3-13), Fraser Proud (2-20) Aman Sood (2-26), and Conner McKinney (1-4) all claiming wickets. FPs were sharp in the field too with run-outs from Sam Knudson and the returning Karan Anand. Alex Keith (43no) and Sam Knudson (16) added 59 for the 2nd wicket to break the back of the chase.
FPs showed 5 changes from the opening day with Karan Anand, Sam Knudson, Leston D’Costa, Aman Sood, and Roland Knudson replacing Penman, Prash, Rajaa, and the injured duo of Challa and Thomson. In full FPs lined up Keith, Nattrass, Sam Knudson, Anand, Swiergon (c), McKinney, Proud, D’Costa, Morrison (w), Sood, Roland Knudson. The skipper won the toss and chose to bowl.
Sood’s opening over did not quite go to plan as after 2 legal balls it was 17 for no wicket and the over cost 21, he did find his form in the 2nd over though with a double-wicket maiden, Chovatiya well caught by Proud for 20, and then Magesh superbly caught by the diving McKinney at short cover for a duck. Hashmi was run out soon after attempting an impossible single to Sam Knudson who calmly threw to Morrison to remove the bails, 25 for 3.
After a good speel from Sood of 5 overs 2 for 26, Roland Knudson replaced him with proud replacing Anand. They combined for 5 wickets to sink the home side to 67 for 8 with some fine bowling. Aggarwal steered Knudson straight to Anand in the gully for 7 and McKinney pouched Thapa for 13. Fraser Proud comprehensively bowled both Bhanu (5) and Narne (5) as FPs stormed on. Knudson then took his 3rd bowling Fernandes who had battled manfully for 9.
Proud and Knudson completed their 8 overs with 5 for 33 between them and Swiergon and McKinney replaced them. In the 2nd of McKinney’s overs, a high full toss was called no-ball, Anand casually catching the high ball and throwing down the stumps to run out a distracted Saad for 4. The next ball an off-break bowled Livingston behind his legs for a 1st ball duck, Masterblasters all out 81.
It was a good all-round bowling effort from FPs to restrict the home side to a well below-par total with all bowlers stepping up. Sood 5-2-26-2, Anand 6-2-11-0, Proud 8-3-20-2, Roland Knudson 8-2-13-3, Swiergon 3-1-6-0, McKinney 1.1-0-4-1.
Keith started strongly with the bat for FPs and despite losing his partner Nattrass, well caught at square leg by Fernandes off Saad, he and new man Sam Knudson batted with a minimum of fuss both finding the boundary. Keith hit a huge straight six and a couple of trademark cover drives as FPs raced towards victory. Sam Knudson couldn’t stay till the end, having been dropped at slip, he played on Chovatiya for 16, but new man Anand launched his 3rd ball for 4 to close out an 8 wicket win, Keith unbeaten on 43.
Next up FPs have a tough trip to the Links to play Bon Accord but can be happy to have claimed their 2nd win of the season.
Man of the Match
Lots of good performances, but the experience Roland Knudson takes the honours with his 3 for 13, bowling an excellent spell.
Champagne moment
Birthday boy Conner McKinney’s diving catch just edges Karan Anand’s run out.
