Grammar host Master Blasters at Rubislaw on Saturday, Grammar can welcome back Fraser Proud and Harry Mapplebeck to add to an already impressive lineup although Karen Anand misses out. The decibel levels in the field will be greatly reduced by this news. Crescent welcome Knight Riders to the links. Crescent currently at the bottom of the table need to put points on the board and fast but the Knights are a top team with talent throughout their side. The Knights opening batsmen are key wickets but if Crescent can get past the 2 run machines at the top of the order they could cause an upset here. Siyapa are making the trip to Countesswells to play Gordonians. Kurram Haseeb is fresh from scoring a 100 at Rubislaw last week so should have his eye in for this one. Gordonians appear to have resisted the urge to help a few more players qualify for the Aberdeenshire Cup Final. Bon Accord get the joys of Sheddockley to face Grampian. There’s one thing for sure and cricket wont be the winner on that pitch! Cults meet Inverurie at Allan Park which could be the closely contested game of Grade 1 on paper anyway. Inverurie welcome ex Turriff and Kemnay all rounder Ritesh Kola into their side for this encounter but Fraser Lawrance, Mark Strachan, Malcolm Pratt and Andy McCurry are all missing from the previous week against Crescent.
Its the semi final stage in the Bon Accord Cup, Methlick make the short journey to Fraserburgh in what is expected to be the friendliest semi final in cricket history. Ex Broch allrounder Mark Witt is likely to be up against his former side. Will Methlick resident Cory Bowie be safe to walk the streets of Methlick if he helps knock them out of the cup? Only time will tell. Mannofield play Portcullis at Hawlaw. Mannofield make one change to the side that defeated Ellon last week with new signing from Bachory Daniel Brown dropping out of the team after his bowling heroics at Gordon Park. Portullis are missing one of last weeks batting hero’s with Ronnie Falconer unavailable due to teammate Dave Mitchell’s wedding. Yes you read that a cricketer getting married during the season, i hope the Portcullis coffers will enjoy a fine from Mr Mitchell.
In Grade 3 Dunecht host Huntly in a fixture that was previously postponed due to covid reasons. Keith Milne was in the runs and wickets last week so the Huntly youngsters don’t want to have their summer holidays ruined by Mr Milne.
Its also the semi final stage of the Reid Cup. 2nd Grampian progress to the final with Stonehaven scratching due to an unavailability of players. Banchory and Crathie face off again for what feels like the 12th time of the season at Burnett Park. Banchory would be considered to be the short format specialists although after only having 9 players available for last weeks defeat by 2nd Gordonians they’ll be hoping to be back to their full complement this week.
Match of the day in the SPCU North East Championship could be at Falkland as Gordonians make their longest drive of the season. Falkland have won 5 in a row since the arrival of Harsha Cooray, all of them by very large margins. Cooray made back to back centuries against Gordos in 2019 so they will need an inspired performance from someone to even up the playing field. 2nd Forfarshire racked up 255 last Saturday with a long overdue return to form from Graeme Garden who made 70, but the quality of the Kinloch bowling wasn’t quite on a par with what he will face at Mannofield on Saturday. Aberdeenshire will be looking to bounce back from a heavy defeat by Falkland last time out and will be boosted by the return of Aayush Das from injury. Arbroath had a much better team out as they ran Gordonians close last weekend, and with the addition of new recruit Pranav Saravanan they will go to Huntly with high expectations. Huntly skipper Jack Mitchell is one of the best batsmen in the league but he is yet to fire this season, and if they have the all round talents of Jordan Squire in their side then this could be a very close encounter. Freuchie travel to People’s Park to take on the Stoneywood Dyce 2nd XI, the former packed with experienced players who seem to produce the goods when required, although the home side will be buoyed by the recent bowling heroics of veteran Mike Louw. Expect Strathmore to prevail at Perth Doocot, and much improved Kinloch will be hoping for a 3rd win of the season as they welcome Dundee High.
The Eastern Premier League has split into a top 5 and a bottom 5. Stoneywood Dyce will find it hard to break away from the latter as they go to Broughty Ferry to face a full strength Forfarshire who have Messrs Leask and Wallace in their ranks. The game to watch will be at Arbroath as Meigle make the short trip past McDonalds to Lochlands, hoping that the Arbroath struggles with the bat continue. Stew Mel and RH Corstorphine won’t get much change out of Heriots and Grange, and Carlton would expect to come out on top against Watsonians.