Category Archives: 1st XI Match Reports

Mahesh Challa came to FPs rescue as he struck 44 batting at number 9 to lift FPs to an improbable 202 for 9. Harry Mapplebck made a very patient 28 to hold things together after FPs had faltered to 52 for 5 and 101 for 6 with only Rob Swiergon (37) making a contribution in the top order. Challa batting at 9, rode his luck but tried to block the good balls and attacked anything in his zone hitting 3 huge sixes. He then nipped in with a key wicket as FPs bowled out a determined Ellon for 170 despite a poor day in the field where many chances went down. Top bowlers were Callum Herd (2/29) and Karan Anand (3/38), for the visitors Rich Greenfield took an excellent 5 for. Continue reading →

Karan judged things perfectly

In a week where a heist at Hatton Garden dominated TV ratings, FPs pulled off a heist of their own in rather wetter circumstances. They secured an unlikely victory by 9 runs by rain calculator against Knigtriders to maintain their 100% record. Chasing just 186 for victory, FPs were deep in the mire at 23 for 4 but an unbroken stand of 106 between Harry Mapplebeck (38*) and Karan Anand (54*) pushed FPs ahead of the par score when the rain became too heavy for the match to continue. If Mapplebeck was the eager runner then Anand was the mastermind behind the plot, correctly deciding that the risk of trying to get the score high enough at the 20 over cut off was too high and rightly gambled that the game would last past the 20 over mark as the rain had relented. He only decided to gamble when it started to get wetter and he blasted 2 sixes in 2 balls to push FPs ahead and then played carefully to ensure they stayed there, knowing a lost wicket would put them behind. Umpire Tariq did a great job to keep the game going as long as it did but ultimately, despite frustration for all players and the official it just became too wet.

Knightriders may well regret throwing away a strong start having been 81 for 1 in 10 overs, only to lose wickets in the middle overs to Callum Herd (2/39) and Jophn Thomson (2/27), losing all momentum to then succumb to 185 all out. Having then had FPs 23/4 they spread the field which allowed Mapplebeck and Anand to bat risk free to set a platform to push the rate up later. Overall though it was a very competitive game between 2 determined sides. Continue reading →

McKinney made a maiden FPs century

Conner McKinney hit a maiden FPs century on a challenging Links pitch, eventually falling for 120 out of FPs 194 for 8. He came in at 10 for 2 and having been dropped a simple catch by Thangaraj  in the gully when on just 3, he took full advantage with a superb knock.  The majority of his 1st 70 runs were collected with clever placement and lightening quick running, before unleashing some big blows late in the piece. With only Alex Keith (21) and Geoff Morrison (18) passing 3, McKinney’s innings was pivotal in the match. Overall he hit 3 6s and 9 4s and shared a vital 88 with Geoff Morrison for the 7th wicket after FPs had been wobbling at 105 for 6. Crescent looked well on course with Nathan Thangaraj making a fluent 67, but when he was superbly caught by that man McKinney, Crescent fell behind the rate and Karan Anand (4/36), Harry Mapplebeck (2/20) and Prash (2/34) nipped in to complete a 20 run win. Continue reading →

Karan Anand on his way to an unbeaten century

An unbeaten century from stand in skipper Karan Anand (129 not out) inspired FPs to victory against Gordonians by 97 runs on a bitterly cold day at Rubislaw.  Having made 275 for 6 in their 45 overs, FPs were never in danger of losing despite a fairly lukewarm bowling effort aside from a 5 wicket blast from Connor McKinney (5/25). Anand batting at 6 took just 33 balls for his 50 and 70 balls for his century hitting 11 fours and 5 sixes in a destructive innings.  He was well supported by Arul Sentil who made 47 after Alex Keith set the platform with 49.  The Gordonians openers put on 61 for the 1^st wicket but were never in touch during the chase. Continue reading →