International cricket and rain seems to go hand in hand when it comes to Scotland, but hopefully we’ll have a full cricket programme ahead of us this weekend. Gordonians are due to face Bon Accord on the artificial at Countesswells so it could be a high scoring day if Messrs Awan, Bashir and Mirza get going for the Bons , while Gordonians are more than capable of finding the boundary through Pandit, Khosla and Perera.
Crescent host Ellon at the Links and welcome back the all round talents of Vineet Khanna but Geet Grover misses out due to work committments. Ellon are without a host of usual faces but you never know what might happen on a Links pitch. Inverurie and Grammar are expected to have an enjoyable game as both sides have a mutual respect for each other. Grammar are missing Anand, Mapplebeck, Senthil and Herd while Inverurie are missing Lawrence, Morrison and Johnston. The news of Anand being unavailable will no doubt leave sets of ears on both sides very thankful. Knight Riders are expected to be too strong for Mannofield at fortress Groats Road, and with Cults picking up a welcome 30 points due to Stoneywood Dyce scratching their 2nd game in the last 3 weeks, Mannofield may well be relegated depending on how the results come in.
In Grade 2 Methlick travel to Rubislaw to meet 2nd Grammar without Mark Woodhouse whose daughter is getting married on Saturday. From a source within the team they’ve revealed that its hard enough getting his match fee out of him so they have no idea how he’ll cope with funding a wedding. Super Kings welcome Fraserburgh and The Broch will be hoping that Cory Bowie will be back to his run scoring best. Grampian and 2nd Knight Riders meet at Sheddocksley and with Jeby George in fine form after his 2nd hundred of the season last week, 2nd Knight Riders could be in for a tough day. Its top versus bottom when Siyapa host Banchory and despite a poor season for the Deesiders they still have enough talented players capable of causing a shock here.
Portcullis will be hoping to bounce back as they travel to face 2nd Methlick without the services of the talented Dave Mitchell, but they should still have enough quality to defeat the home side. Crathie are hot on the heels of Portcullis and will have to defeat 2nd Grampian or that will hand the title to their promotion rivals. Dunecht will be hoping to cement the 3rd place in Grade 3 against 2nd Gordonians at the Cowdray Estate.
The champagne corks will be popping at Meigle if they can beat Mannofield to secure the SPCU NE Championship title. Strathmore will be favourites to beat Forfarshire 2nds and keep the league alive in to the last weekend should Mannofield pull off a surprise. Gordonians are at home to Kinloch who are propping up the other 9 teams in the league. Kinloch are not as weak as their league position suggests but they will have to contend with the batting of Aman Arora who will be chasing runs to get his hands on the SPCU batting trophy again. Perth will be expected to beat Arbroath and the Falkland v Dundee High tie could be a cracker.
In the Eastern Premier League, it’s time for the big local derby between Aberdeenshire and Stoneywood-Dyce…..in Perth! Shire will be hoping Kenny Reid can get amongst the runs again as they try to avoid defeat and relegation from the EPL, but if Shire can’t get Liam Lindsay out cheaply then it could be a long and difficult afternoon for them. Stewarts Melville could relegate Shire if they beat RH Corstorphine, and it will be busy at the bar at Broughty Ferry if Forfarshire can beat Carlton to take the EPL crown. Heriots host Arbroath and Grange go to Watsonians in the other 2 fixtures.
On Sunday, Siyaya and 2nd Grammar play the Bon Accord Cup Final at Peoples Park and Fraserburgh are hosting their invitational 7-a-side competition where the Broch meet Ellon, Inverurie and Gordonians in a round robin tournament starting at 11:30 with the final due to kick off at 4.
Gordonians Under 14s go to Edinburgh for the Scottish Cup finals day on Sunday, looking to defend the Under 13 Scottish Cup they won last season. Changes to the age group structure mean the same trophy is in play, and expect the names Hegde, Saravanan, Canales, Desai and Singh to be particularly prominent if Gordonians can beat off some top level opposition.