FPs slumped to 56 all out for the 2nd time this season to slide to a 108 run defeat to league leaders Stonehaven. Things had looked bright at the half way stage after FPs dismissed Stonehaven for 164, after they had been 99 for no wicket. However, some excellent bowling by Clive Hinchcliffe (3 for 4) and Russell Balsillie 3 for 19, left FPs reeling at 17 for 6 and they were never able to recover.FPs won the toss and named a strong side of Lord, Budd, Morrison, Davey, Bakhshi, Eagles, Khan, Roland Knudson, Sam Knudson, James Lord and Stuart. James Lord and Sam Knudon opened the bowling and Knudson was unlucky not to claim a wicket as John Lord spilled a tough chance at slip. Stonehaven made steady progress to 34 for 0 wicket when Eagles and Khan were introduced and Eagles should have struck early, Budd dropping a simple catch at deep square leg.
This miss allowed Stonehaven to take full advantage as Milroy and Donald powered up to 70 for no wicket when Milroy just escaped a tight stumping call. Soon they were at 99 when Khan sneaked through a quicker ball to end Milroy’s excellent 47. Donald passed 50 with his 3rd six but then failed to fully connect with another attempted big hit and was well held by Stuart at deep mid wicket to depart for a well played 55.
Crozier came and went stumped by Morrison via a deflection for 1 as Khan collected his second wicket and Eagles bagged his 2nd Morrison easily stumping Campbell for 10 – 118 for 4. Balsillie and Gardner combined briefly to add 20 before new bowler Stuart got one straight to dispatch Gardner for 8, knocking out his middle stump. Balsillie then departed plumb LBW to Stuart for 11, before Bakhshi who had replaced Khan bowled Snelling for 4. Stuart and Bakhsi quickly finished things off, Campbell plumb LBW to Stuart for 4, Wilson bowled for 4 and Finlay caught by Eagles off Bakhshi for 3.
Chasing 165 for victory, FPs got off to the worst possible start as Budd was bowled for 1 by Hinchcliff for 1 in the 5th over and Morrison followed for a duck soon after edging Findlay to Milroy for a duck. Davey was quickly plumb LBW to Hinchcliff for a duck and Bakhshi was dispatched two balls later by another good Hincliff delivery – FPs 8 for 4. It was soon 17 for 6 as Lord was bowled leg stump by Balsillie and Eagles suffered the same fate for 2.
With FPs looking at a record low score Zahid Khan repllied as only he can, launching a 4 and 6 off Balsillie. However, it was only a brief respite as Roland Knudson was bowled for 4 by Balsillie, before spinner Wilson had Khan well caught by Milroy for a gutsy 18. James Lord was stumped 1st ball as FPs slid to 41 for 9 before some breif slogging by Stuart and Sam Knudson moved FPs up to 56 before Sam Knudson was stumped attempting to slog Wilson.
All in all, it was a very disapointing batting performance, but Stonehaven deserve great credit for a fantastic bowling effort with Hincliffe particularly impressive with 3 for 4 from 7 overs. Milroy also did an excellent job behind the stumps with 4 dismissals. FPs next league game is at Kintore where they will need a much improved performance to make any impact.