Kintore held firm to deny FPs victory in another exciting match in which all results remained possible until the closing overs. Skipper Roland Knudson was nearly the hero as he produced an inspired spell of 6 for 29 as Kintore slumped from 113 for 1 to end up hanging on at 171 for 8. FPs had earlier made 201 for 9 declared from 43 overs with Tom Booth hitting 57 and Martyn Budd 43. In reply Gareth Prosser hit an excellent 54 in an opening stand of 88.With many players unavailable FPs were struggling for a side right up until the start of play, but Khan and Clelland were persuaded to change their plans and Australian all-rounder Ali Bakhshi was signed and instantly given his debut. Tom Booth and James Lord both returned along with batsman Budd. FPs lost the toss and were asked to bat.
Lord hit the first ball of the game for 4, but FPs lost Morrison in the 1st over bowled by Cowie for a duck. Budd replaced him and he and Lord made steady progress to 41 in the 15th over when Lord was bowled by Satya for 8. Paul McDonald quickly suffered the same fate for 2 and new man Booth initially did not look comfortable against two spinners. However, once he started to get his eye in, he started to score quickly, smashing two big sixes and a four as he raced to 23. Budd was also looking solid but just as he was looking to accelerate he was caught for 43 (6 x4) off Satya’s bowling as FPs fell to 82 for 4. Booth struck another 6, and new man Khan then launched a straight four and straight six but fell next ball caught off Satya for 10.
New man Clelland then shared 33 with Booth seeing Booth to his 50 with another six and the overall score to 139, before Clelland was bowled by Satya for 8. Booth eventually fell to Satya for an excellent 57 (3×4 & 4×6) but new man Bakhshi and Sam Knudson started to play some fine shots adding a quick 38, Bakhshi falling for 15. Lord fell for a duck with the score still on 190, but Sam and Roland Knudson added a quick 11 ahead of the declaration, Sam Knudson finishing on 20 not out. Pick of Kintore’s bowlers was Satya who took 6 for 49.
FPs suffered a blow in the 1st innings as Morrison was struck a nasty blow at point attempting to cut off a powerful Prosser cut. It left Morrison needing stitches to a gash above his eye. With FPs down to 10, Prosser and Satya set about the bowling racing to 88 in 17 overs with Prosser in particularly good form. Things were looking bleak for FPs after Khan dropped a simple chance and then Booth spilled a routine caught and bowled. However, the return of a stitched up Morrison brought a wicket as Prosser skied an attempted cut off Booth which was easily held at cover as Prosser went for an excellent 54. FPs however, could not force another breakthrough as Kintore consolidated to 113 for 1 in 27 overs.
Things then took a turn for the better for FPs as Knudson brought himself on and instantly got rid of Satya for 36 well caught by James Lord at mid on. Samani departd 7 runs later bowled by Knudson for 20 and Stalker soon followed chipping top Paul McDonald at mid off for 4. Cowie was then bowled all over the place by Knudson for a duck as FPs sensed a chance with Kintore 134 for 5. New man Bakhshi bowled a good tight spell but it was the reintroduction of Khan that brought a 6th wicket at 158, as Kacyankrisnan was bowled for 10. Pradeep still looked dangeropus but Knudson grabbed his 5th wicket bowling him for 20…159 for 7 with 6 overs to go. With Khan bowled out Sam Knudson returned and despite some good balls he could not breakthrough. Roland Knudson did however strike again getting Vischal LBW for 1 but Kintore survived the last 6 balls as the match ended in a draw.
It was a good game played in a good spirit by both sides, and although both teams picked up a lot of points each, both will feel it was one they wanted to win. Next week FPs play local rivals Gordonians and the match could well be dependant on which Gordonians side is selected.