Fraser Proud blasted an unbeaten 62
A late onslaught from Fraser Proud (62 not out from 39 balls) saw FPs eventually run out comfortable victors by 6 wickets and with 4 overs to spare against a spirited Inverurie side at Kellands Park. That FPs were only chasing 186 was in a huge part down to FPs restricting Inverurie to just 38 from their final 10 overs as Mahesh Challa claimed a brilliant 5 for 23 including removing Chris Watson who fell 9 short of a century. At 95 for 4 and needing 91 from the final 13 overs, FPs looked like they may be toiling but Proud was ably assisted by McKinney (25 not out) to get after the bowling as Inverurie’s lack of front line 5th bowler proved costly.FPs made 1 change from last week’s team with Thomson replacing Nattrass to bolster the bowling options. FPs won the toss and chose to bowl on a good-looking pitch. Proud struck in his 2nd over, Norval chipping to McKinney at cover for 1. New man Watson survived an inside edge being put down by a diving Morrison and he and Strachan settled into a steady partnership, reaching 42 before Strachan played on to Prash for 18. It brought Thom to the middle who had scarcely survived a stag night but after a settling-in period, he and Watson started to pick up the pace as FPs rather lost control of things, including Keith conceding a comedy 5 which was and still is indescribable. Knudson had bowled nicely conceding just 18 in his 1st 6, but his 7th went for 15 as Inverurie really started opening up. They looked well set for 220+ at 153 for 2 with 8 overs to go but Challa bowled Thom for 41 with a ball that cut back alarmingly to clip leg stump and Morrison took a tumbling catch down the leg side as Bain walked for 2.
Challa then removed Watson who had batted nicely in making 91, the diminutive bowler getting one to lift from a length, and Watson chipping it to McKinney at cover who backpedaled and gathered the catch. Watson’s 91 containing 13 4s, 2 6s and the 5. Inverurie was sinking somewhat now and Murison was sold down the river and run out for 1 by a grateful Penman as Inverurie slipped to 181 for 6. Challa then bagged his 4th, clean bowling Pratt for a duck and completed his 5 for the next ball, Johnston edging to Morrison. The hat trick ball was less successful, but his spell of 7 overs 5 for 23 really had hauled FPs back into things. Opening bowlers Proud and Mapplebeck also did well conceding just 51 in their combined 16 overs.
Keith and Morrison opened and had a decent opening stand of 37 in the opening 10 overs, Morrison being bowled by a Thom yorker for 5. It brought skipper Swiergon to the crease and he and Keith batted carefully but against tight bowling. Ironically it was a rare loose ball by Johnston that did the damage a rank long hop being smashed at Norval who made a tough chance look simple, Keith gone for 34 and FPs 54 for 2. While the next stand between Swiergon and Penman was not one for the purists it did do a useful job of adding 22 and blunting a lot of the front line bowling, Penman was just looking like he was finding some fluency when he gloved Johnston to Murison and walked off.
Inverurie was somewhat going for broke bowling their front line bowlers out and was yet to introduce a 5th bowler when Thom had Swiergon LBW for 26, a rare failure for the skipper as FPs slipped to 95 for 4. Proud took 7 balls to get off the mark, but once he did he laid into the bowling, McKinney running like mad as needed to keep his partner on strike. Proud would have been run out by a direct hit on 3, but he gathered 5 as no one backed up the off-target throw.
Inverurie introduced their 5th bowler in the 30th over and Watson was greeted with a 6 over mid-wicket by Proud as he started to open up. He took on opening bowler Bain’s final over and hit it for 19 with a perfect straight drive, a hooked bouncer, and a ramp over the keeper all finding the boundary, the batsmen also were smart enough to grab three 2s in the over. McKinney then got in on the act smashing a head-high full toss from Watson for 6 as FPs charged towards victory. Proud raised his 50 from 34 balls with another boundary and McKinney superly flicked one himself as FPs closed in. Proud closed things out with 2 more boundaries and two 2s as FPs claimed the win. The stand of 91 was down to excellent batting and also brilliant running as Inverurie struggled to contain Proud and McKinney with limited remaining bowling options.
The game was played in an excellent spirit with batsmen walking and decisions being made fairly and it was certainly one of the more enjoyable games of the season as both sides played in the proper manner. Next up for FPs is Bon Accord in a top-of-the-table clash.
Man of the Match
Fraser Proud edges out 5 star Challa for his 62 not out from 39.
Champagne Moment
Fraser Proud’s ramp for 4 was excellent, but Challa claiming his 5th gets the nod.
Scorecard Inverurie Don Valley v AGSFPs