Karan Anand was back in form with the bat
FPs remained at the top of Grade 1 with a comfortable 6 wicket win against Grampian, chasing down the visitors 194 for 7 with over 10 overs to spare. Karan Anand was back to his destructive best hammering 52 not out off 25 balls, while Fraser Proud made a graceful 46 not out having made a century against the same opposition last week. Skipper Rob Swiergon was out for the 1st time on league duty but still made 42 as the FP middle order ensured Grampian’s total was under par on a rapid Rubislaw outfield.
Skipper Swiergon lost the toss and Grampian chose to bat, FPs making 2 changes from last Sunday as D’Costa and Swiergon replaced Thomson and Sood. Mapplebeck shared the new ball and there was little of note in the opening 10 overs as the visitors made cautious progress to 27 for no wicket. FPs eventually found a breakthrough in the 14th over after Grampian had started to pick up the pace, Proud clean bowling opener Gopinathan for 16. Grampian continued at a good pace following the loss of the opener and despite a few close calls, an LBW shout by Challa, and a similarly positive one from Mapplebeck, it took Anand to claim the 2nd wicket. Having had a very confident appeal for caught at the wicket rejected, 2 balls later he had George LBW for 22. Grampian 90 for 2.
FPs then claimed the key wicket of opener Aluvanthingal for 43, Knudson foxing him with a quicker ball. Thomas played things carefully but had made just 8 when he chipped Knudson to Prash at long-off who comfortably claimed the catch. Varghese reached 50 but both he and Nimmy fell in quick succession, Nimmy bowled by Anand’s final delivery and Verghese bowled by Mapplebeck.
Some late hitting raised Grampian to 194, Joseph holing out to Keith for 12 as the visitors finished on 194 for 7. FPs bowling was a bit off colour but on a flat pitch and rapid outfield it always looked like the total was 40 light.
Grampian needed early wickets and they got Keith for just 4, a splendid inswinger bowling the experienced opener. Morrison hit his 1st ball for 4 and he and Nattrass settled into a stand of 29, when opener Nattrass who had just hit 2 fine boundaries, perished, chipping Aluvathingal to Varghese to fall for 15. Swiergon looked in great form and he and Morrison scored at just over 5 an over in a 46 run stand before Morrison who had become a bit stuck were bowled by Gopintahn for 16.
Proud opened his account with a huge six and he and Swiergon scored freely, Swiergon hitting 8 boundaries as FPs made good progress. He did try one big hit too many while on 42 and was well caught by Raju as Varghese took a wicket, FPs 118 for 4. Any hope that this could be an opening for Grampian soon disappeared as new man Anand launched his 1st ball miles over square leg for 6 and dominated a 96 run stand with Proud, regularly hitting the ball to the boundary. They took just 8 overs to chase down the remaining 78 runs they needed as Grampian tried 8 bowlers all with a similar outcome.
Both men hit more boundaries as the game came to a quick conclusion, Proud’s 48not out containing 4 fours and 2 sixes and Anand’s 52 not out 6 fours and 4 sixes. In what could have been an awkward chase, the strong middle order showing made it comfortable, and next up for FPs is a tricky encounter with Gordonians.
Man of the Match
Karan Anand, back on form with the bat and bowled well also.
Champagne Moment
Karan Anand’s 1st ball 6.
