FPs slumped to there second defeat in as many weeks against a clinical Master Blasters.
Losing the toss FPs were asked to bat on a sunny day at Rubislaw. There was 4 changes from the team the previous week with Swiergon, Penman, Gill and Poosappadi returning with Morrison, Javaid, Barker and Bhosale dropping out. FPs lining up Keith, Penman, Swiergon, Gill, Sood, Haider, Nattrass, Satish, Prash, Knudson, Thomson, in Morrison’s absence Penman took the gloves.
FPs innings started slowly and they soon lost Penman, bowled leaving the ball. Swiergon came and went for 9 after being adjudged LBW. Gill and Keith started to rotate the strike before Gill was caught pulling a ball to the surprise of the fielder in question. FPs woes continued as Nattrass was LBW playing back to a straight one and FPs were in all sorts of trouble. New man Agha Haider and Keith steadied the ship but found it hard to score runs and Haider fell first ball after drinks. Keith took the lead and stuck some boundaries until he was out for a well watched 31. Sood & Satish continued to be cautious and scored the occasional boundary but could not muster a fight back and with some good bowling from Mater Blasters FPs were all out for a well under par 85.
FPs needed an extraordinary bowling performance and were gifted a wicket in Prash’s first over as Chovatiya was bowled. FPs continued to apply pressure but the arrival of the new batsman put pay to any hopes of an FPs victory smashing Prash for 26 in his second over. Swiergon mixed things around and Knudson came on to bowl with instant impact having the destructive batsmen Gajjar caught at long off by a very nervous Nattrass for 26. FPs picked up another wicket Gill claiming a return catch but the game never looked in doubt and Master Blasters slowly made there way to the low target.
Not a game for the purists but one for a good dose of wind burn! FPs must improve and look to bounce back against a strong Inverurie side also looking for there first win on 2022 next Saturday. Bowling wise, Gill battled hard sending down 7 overs and taking 1 for 30, Prash took 1/30 from 2.1, Knudson 1/22 from 7 and Haider’s 2 overs cost 6.
Grade 1 Fixtures – North East Scotland Cricket (nescricket.org)
