Agha Haider played a match winning 88 not out
FPs strolled to a comfortable 151 run victory at Rubislaw against 2nd Grampian thanks to 88 not out from skipper Agha Haider, another half century from Alex Keith and a fluent 30 not out from Hamish Penman. Prash soon had the visitors in trouble with a couple of early wickets before Rob Swiergon atoned for his earlier 2nd ball duck with 5 for 10 with his sharp medium pace. Grampian had at one stage had FPs 10 for 2 but a stands of 95 and 87 took FPs to 192 for 3 which on most other outfields would have been worth many many more.
FPs made 2 changes with Tom Murray and Mahesh Challa replacing Mike Nattrass and Pete Macklin. FPs lost the toss but were happy to bat lining up Keith, Morrison (w), Swiergon, Haider (c), Penman, Murray, Javaid, Lee, Youles, Challa, Prash. Morrison opened with Keith but fell early top edging a short ball to be easily caught at square leg for 2. Swiergon then departed 2 balls later, getting a leading edge to gully, Rathnayake with both wickets.
Grampian sensed an opening, but were thwarted by an excellent partnership of 95 between Keith and Haider. both batsmen were happy to play in a more restrained manner than usual and were not helped by a very slow outfield. They accumulated with careful consideration but did find the boundary to punish any loose balls. Keith raied his 50 from 78 balls but fell soon after stumped having advanced to Mahbub falling for 54 from 88 with 7 boundaries.
New man Penman looked in good touch and swept an early boundary, but used good placement and sharp running to help the score along. Haider continued to be patient but still smashed some lusty blows, particularly severe on any short balls. Both he and Penman upped their rate towards the end of the innings as FPs closed on 192 for 3, Haider 88 from 104 with 10 boundaries and Penman 30 from 43 with 2 boundaries.
It seemed to be a winning score and it was to prove very much the case. It took Prash just 2 balls to remove Joseph, the batsman having a rush of blood to hack wildly across a straight ball and be bowled. It was 12 for 2 when fellow opener Sasidharan was involved an an extraordinary mix up with Mahbub and was run out by the length of the pitch, Javaid gathering and throwing to Morrison after an ambitious single was attempted. Prash soon had a 2nd wicket, Morrison catching a barely believable 1 handed catch an inch off the ground, diving well to his right. After 12 overs Haider removed Prash and Challa with the score of 24 for 3.
New bowler Swiergon was soon in on the act, Mahbub well caught by Prash for 18, a spiraling catch which had more height than distance. It was now a procession, with Swiergon bowling Joseph for 2, then Keith grabbed a superb low catch at slip as Azim fell for 3. Swiergon dispatched Thomson 2nd ball for a duck and Javaid got in on the act Wahid battering him straight up where that man Swiergon took a well judged catch. The game was all but over now with Grampian 35 for 8.
Swiergon still had time for a rare 5 for ahead of getting a jug in at the bar, Kuriam bowled comprehensively for 2. Javaid then finished things off as Kabiv who had dug in for 43 balls was castled for 3, Grampian 41 all out. It left FPs with very tidy figures, Prash 6-3-8-2, Challa 6-1-14-0, Swiergon 6-1-10-5 and Javaid 5.5-1-6-2.
Fps now face a much tougher test with Ellon away next week, but will be encouraged by some decent early season form.
Man of the Match
For his match winning 88 not out, Agha Haider is man of the match. Swiergon gets a special mention for a fine 5 wicket haul.
Champagne Moment
Morrison’s catch – he is not likely to better it this season or perhaps ever.
