A century from Moazzam and 69 not out from Imran ensured that St Ronald easily chased down FPs 205 all out in a fairly bad tempered affair at Kings College. Earlier Booth had made a composed 84 for FPs who recovered from 80 for 6 thanks to good cameos from Mapplebck (24) and Khan (20) in support of Booth. FPs bowled fairly well but could not find their way past two quality batsmen as St Ronald claimed a 9 wicket win.
FPs welcomed back skipper Morrison as well as Mapplebeck, Whitehouse, Vijapur, Senthil and Khan and Kieran Whyte made his 1st top team start of the season. FPs lost the toss to initial St Ronald captain Sunny are were asked to bat. Morrison opened with Clelland as Vijapur and Tenneti were running late and Morrison struck 2 early boundaries before being bowled by Asif for 9. Tenneti soon followed caught for 1, although he may have been unlucky.
It was soon 25 for 3 as Vijapur was run out in controversial circumstances. Having initially been seemingly given not out, there was hugely unsavoury scene as 5 fielders surrounded the umpire, eventually persuading him to give it out. Whether it was out or not was a tight call, but it was not a pleasant site to see such antics in what is essentially a game being played for enjoyment. After FPs skipper Morrison made it clear there was to be no such repeats, the game continued in rather calmer circumstances.
Clelland fell for 8 playing on to Mausan but Booth was beginning to go well, striking two boundaries and a straight six, but his stand with Senthil ended when Senthil played across the line to Abid and was bowled for 12 – FPs 63 for 5. Whyte looked in good form, launching a straight six but he went for just 11, bowled by Abid, with FPs now in trouble at 80 for 5.
Booth was still batting with great care, and forced St Ronald to go on the defensive, setting the odd field of 5 on the boundary, 2 slips and short mid on and mid off. This allowed Booth and Mapplebeck to add 64, mainly in well placed singles combined with smart running. In fact Booth had passed 50 and the pair had added 64 before Mapplebeck edged to the keeper off Sunny for 24.
Number 9 Khan then kept up the good work of the lower order, running well with Booth as they added 51, all bar 8 run. It was quite a recovery from FPs and made sure they posted a competitive total. Khan was bowled for 20 by Chetan and Knudson was out shortly after well caught off Chetan for a duck as FPs were reduced to 200 for 9. Booth with only Whitehouse left decided to hit out and was perhaps unlucky to find the deep cover fielder to fall 16 short of a deserved century, FPs closing on a competitive 205 for 9 from 40 overs.
Vijapur and Whitehouse opened the bowling and Whitehouse thought he had Sunny 1st ball, when he was easily caught at square leg, but the ball was adjudged to be a no ball. Sunny then scratched about as Imran played some fine shots as they added an unlikely 51, until Booth superbly caught Sunny for 18 diving forward at midwicket, Sunny staying at the crease in slight disbelief presumably. Mapplebeck the bowler.
Moazzam joined Imran and they batted extremely well together in an unbroken stand of 158, with both batsmen regularly finding the boundary. Morrison tried various bowling options and Knudson could not believe his LBW appeal was not upheld against Imran. More controversy followed as Vijapur was no balled incorrectly as apparently his foot was not grounding and Whitehouse was no balled under the ‘The Steven Finn rule’ which of course is not in force in the Grades this season. Thankfully and with credit to the umpire, the 2nd of these decisions was revoked.
None of these unfortunate incidents should take away from fine innings from the batsmen and FPs did not help themselves when the usually reliable Senthil spilled a chance on the boundary off Whyte. It was becoming clear it would not be FPs day and shortly after Moazzan recorded his century, St Ronald recorded the winning runs.
FPs bowlers stuck to their task well and bowled far better than the result suggests. the bowling figures were, Vijapur 10-0-54-0, Whitehouse 10-0-37-0, Mapplebeck 7-0-43-0, Knudson 4-0-26-0, Whyte 4-0-23-0 and Khan 3-0-24-0. It is a game that FPs should move on from, as they did not play badly but came up against 2 batsmen in top form that they just could not get out. It was not a particularly enjoyable game and nothing like the games against 1st St Ronald which are usually played in a good spirit and without incident. FPs travel to one of the league favourites Cults next week hoping for a slight change in fortune with the ball.
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