FPs bowling and fielding deserted them as they managed to throw away a very strong position against Portcullis and ultimately fall to a 4 wicket loss. After Karan Anand had made a century for FPs in their 226 for 8, FPs seemed well in command when they reduced Portcullis to 107 for 6 but a fine century from former FPs man Amand Sood aided by 28 from McKenzie saw Portcullis home with an over to spare.
FPs lined up Keith, Morrison (w), Gill, Haider (c), Penman, Anand, Lee, Javaid, Prash, Youles, Johnston and lost the toss and were put in. They lost Morrison to a high full toss, which he miscued back to the bowler for 3 and Gill soon followed for 12 edging to the keeper. Keith was scratchy but made 27 before being bowled by Blackburn and FPs were 79 for 4 when Penman miscued for 1. Haider looked solid in making 24 before trying an ambitious cut off Azhakath and was bowled and when Lee was expertly bowled by the same bowler for 4, FPs were in trouble at 110 for 6.
They had not worried as Karan Anand having had carefully played himself in, cut loose with a blistering innings that few can play, cracking 16 fours and 3 sixes in exactly 100 not out. He shared 63 with Javaid who hit 2 sixes in his 20 and with some late support from Prash lifted FPs to an above par 226.
All seemed to be going OK for FPs as Prash yorked Murphy for 1 and Javaid bowled Forbes for 11. Javaid then appeared to have Azhakath brilliantly caught behind on 3 only for the batsmen to keep batting. Anand did bowl him but only after he had made 39 and he then had the impressive Thorpe well caught by Prash for 19. Philip then nicked through to the keeper, the umpire sending the disappointed batsman on his way. When Anand won a tight LBW decision against Vijaykrishnan, FPs seemed in charge with the visitors 107 for 6 in 26 overs.
They had reckoned against Aman Sood and he returned to Rubislaw to play a brilliant innings making 102 not out as FPs struggled to find a line and length not assisted by Gill or Haider’s injuries. FPs also dropped catches and McKenzie played smartly to keep Sood on strike in making 28. Sood raised a deserved hundred with 2 sixes as Portcullis pulled off a remarkable win.
FPs record to date had probably flattered the team a liuttle and while the defeat was disappointing 11 wins from 12 has been a decent effort given last season’s travails. Despite bowling and fielding poorly in the last half of the innings, Sood put away all the bad balls and deserved to be on the winning side.
Next up for FPs is Grampian at Inverdee where they will be hoping to bounce back.
Man of the Match
For FPs Karan Anand for his ton and 3 wickets
Champagne Moment
Prash’s excellent catch.
Scorecard
FPs v Portcullis Scorecard
