FPs hopes of retaining the Aberdeenshire Cup were thwarted by a late burst from grades veteran Tariq Malik after a swashbuckling 100 by FPs cricketing legend Alex Keith.
FPs lined up with a mixed team and a new skipper in Prash Poosappadi for the cup. After losing the toss and being asked to bowl on a glorious day at Rubislaw FPs were soon in the thick of it with Prash & Aman Sood opening the bowling managing to contain the dangerous Awan until he unleashed massive 6s down the ground off Sood. Sood then Shakil caught at mid-wicket by Agah Haider. Poosappadi rang the changes and brought Swiergon & Knudson on, Swiergon striking in his first over removing Nawaz plumb LWB, the batsmen feleling he had hit it, the umpire and Swiergon feeling otherwise. FPs continued to bowl well and had another breakthrough when Swiergon again had Sood LBW.
FPs continued to take wickets and had Bons 125 for 7 at one point before some rather expensive overs nudged Bons up to 183.
Knowing the target was very chase able Keith and Nattrass looked to start positively and were going well until Nattrass was LBW. Keith and Sood built but Aman was LBW for 4 and Agha joined Keith who was now ‘blowing’. Agha Haider fell for 19 and Swiergon and Keith pushed FPs towards the target before Swiergon was bowled playing onto his pads for the second day in a row.
Bons sniffing a chance brought back on veteran bowler Malik who proceeded to hoover up the tail, eventually bowling Keith or a brilliant ton. After the wicket of Keith, FPs were not able to find the boundary again and fell 9 runs short and what would have been a great victory.
Hats off to Bon Accord for the fightback and to FPs for there fielding display and Alex Keith’s batting. FPS will hope for better on Saturday as they entertain the currently unstoppable and unbeaten Crescent
Man of the Match
Alex Keith – gets better with age
Champagne Moment
AK’s ton.
