FPs challenging season continued as they suffered a heavy loss at Allan Park against Masterblasters. FPs did at least manage 9 more wickets than the previous week and offered up a much improved fielding display, but a rather familiar clatter of wickets meant that the chase of 277 was never even a pipe dream and eventually FPs slumped to 90 all out, only Prash with 22 not out and Mike Nattrass 20 showing any resistance.
FPs made 4 changes with Morrison, Sharma, Lee and the debuting Sachdeva replacing Keith, Youles, Penman and Bhosale. Swiergon won the toss and opted to field at Allan Park which looked well in need of some loving care from Ian Sutherland.
Prash bowled a testing opening spell but an opening stand of 41 kept FPs at bay, it was eventually broken when Sood made good ground at mid wicket to bag Mantha for 24. Fellow opener Fernandes soon followed caught at the wicket for 10 off Sood, sportingly ignoring the umpire’s not out call and walking off. Aggarwal was perhaps the unluckiest man on the field as to go with his luckless bowling display later, he was pinned by a shooter from Swiergon to fall LBW for 8. FPs sensed an opening when Narne was well held by Sachdeva off Haider for 8 as Masterblaster slipped to 74 for 4. However a couple of dropped catches proved costly and Bhanu and Denzyl Fernandes built a good stand of 68, new bowler Javaid finally getting Bhanu for 30, well caught by Sachdeva. Javaid made short work of Ganesan who was caught and bowled for 1 as FPs again sensed an opening.
It soon drifted away as Hemal hit 47 from 28 balls before Prash caught him on the boundary off the returning Sood. Fernandes passed 50 as the home side passed 250 before being well run out by Javaid, Lee doing well to break the wicket, the batsman out for 58. Gajjar was soon bowled by Prash and off the last ball of the innings, Lee brilliantly ran out Kakarla as Masterblasters ended on 276 all out.
Bowling wise it was a mixed bag with not one maiden bowled. Prash 8-0-56-2, Sood 8-0-45-2, Swiergon 8-0-38-1, Haider 8-0-45-1, Javaid 4-0-27-2, Knudson 3-0-28-0, Sachdeva 1-0-17-0.
Needing a good start, FPs made reasonable progress and were on 35 when Morrison called the in form Nattrass for a tight single and it proved an unsuccessful decision as Nattrass was short of his ground for 20. After what had been solid progress, an all too familiar clatter of wickets followed as FPs slumped to 48 for 6. Swiergon bowled by Kakarla for 1, Haider (1) and Lee (4) LBW and bowled by the same bowler and Morrison (8) and Javaid (1) both out to Hemal.
Sood and Prash dug in but Sood struggling for timing could only chip Hemal to Gajjar for 12 and Sharma was soon bowled for 5. Sachdeva fell for one and Knudson was then bowled 1st ball as FPs slumped to 90 all out. At the other end Prash had played nicely and made a run a ball 22 including 2 fours and six and was likely disappointed by the lack of support.
FPs season continues to be a tough one but the players involved continue to give there all and it continues to be a challenge with some players unavailable. FPs will go again next week against 2nd Knightriders hoping someone can find some form.
Man of the Match
Prash for a decent bowling display and some good batting while others fell.
Champagne Moment
The excellent run out by Jim Lee.
Pictures from the game by Gilles Gardner can be found here
Scorecard here
