McKinney made a crucial 50
Saturday saw Grammar prevail in 78 over thriller in the baking sun at Rubislaw. With Morrison resuming his pilgrimages to the white isle, Proud practicing for next year’s 150th Open at St Andrews and Roland Knudson resting for the cup match, FPs lined up Keith, Nattrass, Penman (WK), Swiergon (C), S. Knudson, McKinney, Haider, Challa, Sood, Poosappadi & Thomson.
In what was likely the hottest game most have played at Rubislaw, Siyapa won the toss and chose to bowl first, much to the delight of those FP players wishing to hide in the shade. As the opposition showed their keenness by taking fielding positions at 1245, Keith and Nattrass were in no rush to start early, waiting until the go-ahead from the umpire to take the field.
Nattrass continued his run of low scores, bowled 4th ball missing a full straight one from Kashif, which brought the much more fluent Penman to the crease as Keith blazed fours at the other end across a lightning-quick outfield. Unfortunately, he went after one too many, stumped trying to charge at a wide one from Kashif and unable to get back in time, having scored 21 with 5 fours, FPs 29-2.
This brought the in-form skipper to the crease and 62 was added in the next 8 overs as the strike was rotated with singles and both batsmen finding the boundary regularly. However, Penman was again rueing his batting partner’s running and calling ability as Swiergon hit one straight to point and called him through, only for the fielder to gather and affect a direct hit with Penman unable to make his ground – a promising 25 that included 4 fours, FPs 91-3.
Sadly, the next wicket fell quickly in calamitous fashion, Swiergon burning another partner as Sam Knudson called him through for a single only for the skipper not to move until they were at the same end, both turning back and forth until Knudson was also run out, falling on his sword for 0. Swiergon was barely able to capitalise as was adjudged to be LBW in the next over, accepting the decision despite thinking it may have been slightly high, having scored 41 with 7 fours from 32 balls.
With FPs now 96-5 having lost 3 for 5 inside 3 overs, Siyapa sensed the upper hand. McKinney – only recently at the crease following Knudson’s departure – was joined by Haider. Managing to keep out the good balls, pushing singles and each hitting the fence, the run rate was kept at a reasonable pace however Haider was trapped in front as the score crested 150, departing for 35 from 30 balls with 6 fours.
Challa managed to keep his first ball out but was unable to prevent his second crashing into his pad to be given LBW. Sood headed out but was soon given out caught behind and McKinney was at risk of running out of partners. Prash managed to provide support to ensure maximum batting points but was unable to avoid being bowled by Shahid for 6, FPs 183-9.
McKinney, now on 41, was joined by the ever resolute Thomson and together they managed to push the score beyond 200 as McKinney reached his 50 in 47 balls, taking 99 minutes and included 8 fours. Having managed the previous 16 balls he had faced, Thomson was trapped on the pads for 6 and FPs finished on 216 after 38 overs. Kashif was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 7-0-49-4 and Abasi assisting with 8-1-26-2.
FPs knew they had to bowl and field well on a pitch that was playing true and an outfield that had quickened in the afternoon heat. Prash’s tight first spell was exactly what was required, bowling excellent lines and lengths but unlucky to be rewarded first despite pleading with the batsman to nick one. Challa, stepping up to share the opening overs with Prash, was the man to strike, having Rashid given LBW for 1 and bowling potentially key man Shahid also for 1.
As Prash snuck one through the defenses as Sameer was bowled for 0, FPs were keen to push home the advantage with Siyapa 12-3. However, this was not to be the case as Khuram, supported first by Amir and then Umer G, piled on the runs as he was dropped along the way and FPs fielding became slack in the lingering heat.
Amir was caught by Keith off the bowling of Thomson for 32 and Umer was taken by McKinney off Sood by which time the heat was taking its toll on Khuram who had kept wicket and was well into his innings. Despite this, he single-handedly managed to keep the pressure on the entire FPs team, finding the boundary and managing the strike as a tight finish beckoned.
The returning Prash bowled Sadat for 7 but with Khuram still, at the crease, FPs began to desperately push for wickets. They were finally rewarded when Khalid attempted to hit Sood back over his head, having not accounted for Nattrass at mid-off, who got around and judged his leap to take another one-handed catch above the head.
With 17 runs still required and the batsmen having crossed, Khuram was able to get back to face Prash for the last over, hoping to secure quite the upset. Sadly for him, he skied the first ball to McKinney at cover, who took a simple catch under plenty of pressure to fall for an outstanding 107 and FPs were now confident of victory. Kashif was only able to push a boundary through backward point and a single as Prash picked up a 4th wicket bowling Naveed for 0. Sensible fielding prevailed as a final single was taken to the men on the ring as Siyapa ran out of balls 9 runs short of their target.
FPs were glad of the result but unhappy that they had made it so close. Credit goes to Siyapa for their commitment – especially Khuram – and their fair play throughout the match with 78 overs being bowled in 6 hours and 10 minutes (not including the tea break).
Man of the Match
Conner McKinney for a fine innings
Champagne Moment
Prash’s final over – kept calm and took 2 vital wickets
Scorecard AGSFPs v Siyapa
