Grammar host Gordonians aiming to keep ahead of the chasing pack in the race for the Grade 1 title. Jamil Shaikh has been a key man with bat and ball for Gordos this year so Grammar will have to keep a close eye on him however with Chamila Perera on 1st team duty that’s one less worry for Rob Swiergon’s boys. Grampian have agreed to give up home rights to make sure of the wonderful facilities at Inverurie. Inverurie welcome back Jordan Thom from his latest offshore jolly. Grampian have regular run scorers in Josio Aluvathingal, Jeby George and Johnson Varghese and if they can score runs at Sheddocksley then they can score runs anywhere! Knightriders and Cults slug it out at Groats Road with both teams still in the hunt for top spot in the league. Safeer Peedikayil with only 2 wickets from his 35 overs this season will be hoping to improve his strike rate for the Knights. Bon Accord are back on the grass at the Links with the artificial still settling and Siyapa have a match winner in Muhammad Shahid if he hits the right areas with the ball. Fazel Awan hasn’t been as prolific with the bat as usual this season so Siyapa could be the side to feel this frustration. Master Blasters welcome Crescent to Allan Park. Mausam Thapa has been in form with the bat and ball recently so he’ll be the main danger man for Master Blasters. Crescent will be hoping Shoaib Tahseen will keep up his run scoring ways.
Mannofield start the day as firm favourites against 2nd Grammar and will hope the Yahathugoda’s and Alawattage’s have a day to remember. Celebrity lookalike work for Leston D’Costa appears to have dried up which is good news for Grammar but bad news for his bank balance. Fraserburgh wont be entertaining Ellon due to a lack of numbers for the Gordon Park based side giving the Broch all 30 points without a ball being bowled. Methlick host 2nd Knightriders at Lairds and talented Aussie Adam Veersema has been finding the boundary with ease this season for Methlick. Steve Murphy is taking a brief break from his umpiring commitments so that’s an unexpected bonus for the home side. However if Asad Waqar is in the 2nd Knights team he’s a capable match winner with bat or ball.
2nd Grampian will have the bonus of not having to contend with the inform Jason Gouws as he misses the trip to Duthie Park. However, Brian Campbell has been on fire with the ball so the Grampian batsmen wont be able to take liberties against the experienced Stonehaven bowling line up comprising Campbell, Clive Hinchliffe and Nigel King. Huntly might be without their inspirational captain Darren Morrison who’s recently been on first team duty but should have the incredibly talented Graham Reid in their ranks at home to 2nd Methlick. Dunecht host 2nd Gordonians and it will be interesting to see how former Dunecht favourite Darri Peerless gets on against his former club. One things for sure if Alan Burnett does dismiss him there will be no chance of a send off. The Deeside derby sees Banchory welcome Crathie in what is expected to be a tightly contested affair. Ross Devlin of Banchory is the top run scorer in Grade 3 at the moment but he’ll have to be at his best against the leagues joint top wicket taker in Mike Baldry.
In the Eastern Premier League, Stoneywood Dyce will be hoping to carry on their winning ways from last weekend as they host RH Corstorphine. RHC are packed full of experience but have been very inconsistent this season. The SDCC batsmen will be looking to stick in as they have lost their top 5 for 80 or less in every league game to date.
In the SPCU North East Championship, Aberdeenshire are at Dalnacraig to take on Dundee High, and whilst the pitch can be a bit of a leveller, Shire should be far too strong. Joseph Horne is missing for Shire as is Aayush Das, but their bowling attack should relish the odd bit of variable bounce. Gordonians are also heading to Dundee as they visit Forfarshire 2nds. They are without skipper Mayank Bhandari and their opening bowlers Saraswat and Srinivasan, but they welcome back Pranav Saravanan to add to their spin bowling options. Huntly have a tough task on their hands as they go to league title challengers Falkland. With Harsha Cooray in devastating form with the bat Huntly will have to repeat their bowling heroics from their last match against Perth Doocot to have any chance of getting a result. Stoneywood Dyce 2nds will fancy the trip to Arbroath but the youthful hosts are very dependent on their experienced middle order for runs and this game could go either way. Elsewhere Kinloch will be hoping for a result as they go to unpredictable Perth Doocot, and the match of the day is at Freuchie where Strathmore are the latest of the fancied sides to have a pop at the experienced league leaders.
Bon Accord are due to be on Challenge Cup quarter final duty in Edinburgh on Sunday, facing Morton who knocked out Gordonians in Round 1. Having got to this round thanks to the toss of a coin, Bons may well be dodging showers yet again.