Harrower claimed 6 wickets
Sean Harrower was the bowling hero with 6 for 31 as FPs powered to another comfortable win, this time by 8 wickets against 2nd Knightriders. After the opening bowlers had restricted the visitors to 10 runs off the opening 10 overs, Harrower took charge as he was expertly backed by some brilliant catching by his teammates. After an early scare as FPs slid to 12 for 2, an unbroken stand of 100 between Alex Keith (46no) and Agha Haider (42no) steered FPs to victory with 23.3 overs to spare.
FPs made 2 changes with Murray and Nattrass in for Swiergon and Lee, lining up Keith, Nattrass, Morrison (w), Haider (c), Penman, Murray, Javaid, Macklin, Challa, Harrower, Prash. Haider won the toss and bowled. Prash and Challa kept it tight early and it was little surprise a run out occurred with the visiting batsmen desperate to break the shackles, Harrower superbly throwing down the stumps at the non strikers end from short fine leg, the batsmen guilty of assuming the throw would not come his way, Vallatharasu out for 5.
After the openers had tied things up, Javaid and Haider took up the attack and Javaid soon struck bowling Reddy for 4. Haider got Duraisamy before drinks, Javaid pouching a simple catch at mid on as Knights slid to 34 for 3. It was testament to FPs bowling and fielding that at drinks, Knights had limped up to 38 for 2.
Sean Harrower was introduced in the 22nd over for his 1st bowl for 2 years and he was to enjoy quite the return to action. Having opened with a wide, his next ball was to be a wicket taker, Zachariah (3) miscuing high in the air where Penman did exceptionally well to make the ground and grab a tough chance over his shoulder running back and round from mid off. Kmights then consolidated for 7 overs and raised there score to 82 for 4, albeit the rate was slow.
Opener Vivekanandan had reached a very patient 41 but finally departed to Harrower, Macklin back pedalling and grasping the catch above his head at point as FPs found a 5th breakthrough. It was soon 87 for 7 as Harrower grabbed 2 in 2 balls, Prash
taking a well judged catch at mid wicket to remove Kesavan for 13 and next ball Alladi could only fend Harrower to Nattrass at short leg as Harrower grabbed his 4th. Harrower had been brilliantly backed by his fielders and nearly had a 5th when Nattrass shelled a stinging chance at mid off, he soon made amends, superbly reacting at a close in square leg to a long hop that was blasted at him by Raman (2) and he grasped it at head height. 3 balls later Harrower had his 6th and Knights were 99 for 9 Ganganei chipping to Javaid for a duck. Some late resistance from George and Kodur lifted Knights to 11, 
but George fell for 18, run out by Tom Murray swooping in from cover.
On the back of a great wicket taking spell by Harrower, FPs fielded extremely well, taking their catches and maki
ng run outs which is in complete contrast to last season. Prash and Challa set the tone early and good tight bowling allowed FPs to build pressure through out. Bowling figures were Prash 7-1-8-0, Challa 8-1-22-0, Haider 6.2-0-12-1, Javaid 8-0-35-1 and Harrower 8-1-31-6.
FPs chase started badly as Nattrass miscued George to Kodur for a 2nd ball duck and then Morrison hammered a 1st ball half tracker where Zachariah took a stunning one handed diving catch at backward square to Morrison’s disbelief. Once again FPs were 2 down early at 12 for 2, but again Keith and Haider soon took the game away from Knights with an effortless stand of 100 in 15 overs as both settled in for red inkers. Keith at one point smacked 3 consecutive boundaries straight down the ground as he played an elegant innings. Haider scored his runs all round the wicket particularly severe on any short bowling as continued his prolific form finishing on 42 from 55 (5×4), Keith on 46 from 47 (7×4).
It was another good win for FPs who have won all 5 games so far. Next up is 2nd Grampian in the cup on Thursday before a Saturday off.
Man of the Match
Sean Harrower for the excellent 6 wickets.
Champagne Moment
Hamish Penman’s excellent running catch.
Scorecard
FPs v 2KR Scorecard
Thanks to Gilles Gardner for the picture gallery which can be found here
