Mapplebeck took 2 wickets
FPs difficult season continued as they lost by 4 wickets against Inverurie despite a determined display at Rubislaw. Having made 160 all out, it was always a tough ask for the bowlers but despite a strong start, dropped catches and marginal calls did not help FPs as Inverurie edged to a vital win. Only Aman Sood with 41, Alex Keith 32 and Harry Mapplebeck 27 threatened with the bat but no stand of significance meant the batting never really got going. Harry Mapplebeck bowled a fiery opening spell taking 2 for 21 in his 8 overs and Aman Sood picked up 3 for 46, but 44 from Fraser Lawrance and 38 from Jordan Thom helped Inverurie to their target.
FPs made a host of changes with Knudson injured and captain Swiergon Hamish Penman and Hasnain Javaid unavailable. John Youles, Govind Bhosale and Tom Murray and Pradip Sharma stepping in. Skipper Prash won the toss and batted as FPs lined up Keith, Nattrass, Haider, Mapplebeck, Sood, Morrison (w), Youles, Bhosale, Prash, Sharma, Murray.
Fps were soon in trouble as Lawrance removed Nattrass caight and bowled for 3. Keith was in fluent form and he and Haider added 34 quickly but fell in quick succesion to Jessiman, Haider bowled for 11 and Keith caught on the boundary by Lawrance for 32. Mapplebeck and Sood rebuilt, but when looking set, Mapplebeck skipped down to Jessiman only to be well stumped by Morrison for 10. Geoff Morrison came and went for 10, failing to clear Lawrance at mid off, chipping a half volley from Mirashi to him. Youles was the 1st of 2 LBWs for Watson, falling for 10 and Sharma went in the same manner for 8.
Thom bowled Bhosale for 10 and it left Sood and Prash to get what they could. Sood hitting some fin shots but aimed one to many at Lawrance and was well caught by Court for 41 (5×1, 1×6). Prash was last to go for 7 as FPs folded to 160 all out.
FPs started well with the ball and Mapplebeck was perhaps unfortunate not to have Strachan LBW 2nd ball. He did however produced an absolute peach to bowl Morrison for 3 and repeated the trick 2 balls later to castle Watson, Inverurie 18 for 2. Strachan after the early scare had settled in and it was a surprise when he was foxed completely by Sood’s slower ball and was bowled middle stump for 24. At 44 for 3, FPs sensed an opening but a stand of 69 between Lawrance and Thom took the game away from FPs. Despite some close calls, FPs could not force the breakthrough as both batsmen paled some fine shots in a good stand.
The returning Prash did finally win an LBW to remove Lawrance for 44 and when Sood got Thom finding the only man, Bhosale, on the legside to fall for 38, FPs sensed an opening again. However 2 dropped catches were to prove vital as Inverurie closed out the win, Manohar falling for 6 with the scores level, a 3rd wicket for Sood and a decent catch by Haider.
Bowling figures for FPs were Prash 8-0-34-1, Mapplebeck 8-2-21-2, Haider 6-0-32-0, Sood 6.4-0-46-3, Sharma 2-0-9-0, Nattrass 2-0-16-0.
With FPs resigned to playing Grade 2 next season, the last few games of the season will be about planning for next season and it will be vital that FPs both attract some new players and also get more games out of the existing squad in 2023. Despite the problems of this season, those that have played have continue to show great commitment and team spirit and will be hoping that the game on Saturday with Gordonians may be an opportunity for a 3rd win of the season.
Man of the Match
Close call between Aman Sood and Harry Mapplebeck. Harry just edges it for his opening spell which probably deserved better.
Champagne Moment
Aman’s Sood’s slower ball would get it normally, but Harry Mapplebeck’s delivery to Steve Morrison was unplayable.
