Knudson has Gordos in a Spin

Knudson was in fine bowling form

Roland Knudson played a huge part in another FPs win in Grade 1, claiming 3 for 23 to knock over the Gordonians top order as the home side comfortably defended 212 for 7. Having made good progress to 44 for no wicket, he had Abrar well caught at short cover for 27, forced Pandit to play on for 2, and then took a stunning one-handed caught and bowled to dispatch Metha for 8. Earlier on FPs had started cautiously making just 10 for no wicket in the opening 10 overs, but a rejig of the batting order paid off as skipper Swiergon hit another 50 and Karan Anand made a measured 66 not out.

FPs as ever lost the toss and were asked to bat, Thomson, making a welcome return from injury and Sam Knudson being bumped from a chopper replacing Mapplebeck and D’Costa. The visitors bowled very accurately at the start and Keith and Nattrass could not get the bowling away crawling along at 1 an over. Nattrass got hold of a few in the 11th over to double the score and slowly FPs rolled into action. Just when he was looking good, Nattrass was LBW for 11 but new man Swiergon was rather more fluent as he and Keith added 28 quickly.

The sweep shot is not one Keith plays and it may be retired again after he was bowled for 21 by Kumar. Proud then joined his skipper and they scored at a good pace adding 55 in 8 overs as Swiergon went after the bowling. He was scoring freely and had reached 50 when disaster struck, meekly chipping a return catch back to the bowler. When Proud holed out for 31 off Bashir there was some alarm at 126 for 4. Morrison made 12 but could not clear Pandit at mid off but Sam Knudson was to prove a useful ally for Anand as they added 46, Knudson running smartly to give Anand the strike. Anand was content to push a single but anything in his zone was dealt with as he smashed 4 sixes and 2 fours in his 66. Knudson fell for 12 and Challa fell 1st ball, but Prash stayed with Anand to help FPs up to a competitive 212 for 7, the last ball of the innings going for 6.

Gordonians started fairly cautiously but saw off the opening bowlers and reached 40 for no wicket at the 1st sanitisation break. As so often happens the break in play seemed to break Abrar’s concentration and he played an awkward shot of spinner Knudson where Nattrass at short cover did well to grab the catch. The opener out for 27. Pandit never looked happy against Knudson and he had made just 2 when he chopped on a shortish delivery as Knudson took control. Anand got in on the act as Bashir drove him to Challa at cover for 25, the visitors 64 for 3. Knudson was really bowling nicely and he had a 3rd victim when a fiercely struck drive, by Metha was superbly caught one-handed high to his right, 68 for 4.

Gordonians then consolidated but were falling miles behind the rate as Vitala and Sheikh batted nicely but with limited intent as the rate climbed. Needing 106 from the last 10 something had to give and the attempts to attack new bowler Thomson failed as Shaikh holed out to Proud at long-off and Vitala was well held by Nattrass at mid-on.

Prash wanted in on the wickets and he produced two good deliveries to bowl Suthaniran for a duck and Kistereddy behind his legs for a duck. The game was up and Thomson got a 3rd, another good catch by Nattrass at long-on as Perera fell. FPs had a chance for the final wicket but Anand could not grab a low chance at slip, it mattered little as FPs closed out a well-deserved 66 run win.

It was probably FPs most consistent bowling performance of the season and there were very few extras and very few bad balls. The batting was well measured and Anand batted expertly to assess the winning score. Next week FPs have a doubleheader of Siyapa away and then Knightriders in the cup.

Man of the Match
Roland Knudson for a superb bowling spell just edges Karan Anand’s batting.

Champagne Moment
Roland’s one-handed catch – superb stuff.