Grammar’s convincing 7 wicket win against Bon Accord on Saturday means the Bons have a mountain to climb if they are going to catch the league leaders with 4 games remaining. Bons mustered an under par 183 for 9 from their 40 overs with Nawaz Mirza making 53 however 4 for 26 from Big svelte Prash Poosappadi helped stem the flow of runs. 57 from Rob the run machine Swiergon and 52 not out from Hamish Escobar Penman saw Grammar home with minimal fuss. With the pitch at the Links deemed unfit for a competitive game between Crescent and Cults the sides played a friendly and hopefully Ravi Majahan is walking less like John Wayne today after his 2 over spell. Inverurie scratched to Knightriders so their percentage took a major hit. Gordonians defeated Grampian at Harlaw. In a close game Grampian made 151 for 7 from their 40 with Mayank Bhandari qualifying for the Aberdeenshire Cup Final with his 3 for 29. 51 from Ashfaq Bashir helped Gordonians chase the total down with 4 wickets remaining. Siyapa picked up a much needed 30 points with a 68 run win against Master Blasters. Siyapa made 179 with Khurram Haseeb top scoring with 29 and in reply Master Blasters were bowled out for 111 thanks to 3 wicket hauls from Muhammad Shahid and Tanweer Khan.
In Grade 2 Mannofield look odds on to complete an invincible season. 150 from Indy Yahathugoda provided the majority of their 238 for 9 and in reply the Broch were bowled out for 78 thanks to spin twins Sampath Rajapaksha and Alexander Cummings who took 4 for 14 and 3 for 23 respectively to complete a 160 run win. 2nd Grammar picked up their 1st win of the season in a close game against Methlick where they triumphed by 5 runs. Grammar batted first and made 121 all out with Tom Murray 37 and Mike Nattrass 30 top scoring for the Rubislaw based side. In reply they contained Methlick to 116 for 8 from their 40 with Aman Sood picking up 5 for 14. Ellon leapfrogged Portcullis and moved into 2nd place in Grade 2 after beating everyone’s favourite Grade 2 team Portcullis by 26 runs in a competitive game at Gordon Park on Saturday. Ellon batted first and made 187 for 6. Jonny Barrett top scored with 58 and Stewy Davies being a tight Yorkshire man avoided having to get a jug in by getting out for 47. Portcullis were bowled out for 161 and Kannan Vijayakrishnan made 59.
In Grade 3 the pitches were unplayable at Balmoral and Dunecht leaving 2nd Methlick and Banchory kicking their heels. 2nd Grampian defeated Huntly by 20 runs unfortunately the details are unavailable apart from Grampian scored 134 and Huntly made 114 for 7 in reply. Stonehaven remain in the hunt for promotion from Grade 3 after a 7 wicket win against 2nd Gordonians. Gordos made 120 with Ryan Davis top scoring again this time with 31. 4 for 10 from Anton Kossman and another 3 wickets from Brian Campbell were the major contributors with the ball. 64 not out from Ray Van Gijssel helped Stoney to a comfortable win.
The SPCU North East Championship took an unexpected turn on Saturday as league leaders Freuchie lost to Forfarshire 2nds. Forfs posted 184 for 7 thanks to 50 from Graeme Garden and an unbeaten 54 from Ross Bailey, and despite 90 from Ian Stonebridge and 52 from Greg Birrell, Freuchie finished 9 wickets down and an agonising one run short. This puts the ball back in the court of neighbours Falkland who can potentially overhaul Freuchie if they beat them convincingly when they meet later this month. This assumes both sides keep winning, and Falkland were far from convincing as they beat Perth Doocot by 4 wickets. Kash Khalil made 40 as Brock Ditchman took 4 for 14 to bowl out Perth for a laborious 104. Mohammed Mohsin was again amongst the wickets for Perth taking 4 for 28 as Falkland made quick but hard work of the run chase. No play was possible at Countesswells giving Gordonians and Huntly the day off, and there wasn’t much play at Mannofield as Stoneywood Dyce 2nds were steamrollered by Aberdeenshire. Nathan Elliott picked up 7 for 30 as SDCC were all out for 45, none of the batsmen getting past 6. Shire didn’t lose a wicket as they won in the 11th over. Kinloch put up a good fight against Strathmore, albeit 120 all out isn’t exactly a par score at Forfar. Liam Sweeney with 4 for 7 did the damage, and he was the only Strathmore batsman who didn’t make it to the middle as they made a meal of things, and needed an unbeaten 13 from Ryan Hedge to see them home. Arbroath piled on the runs against Dundee High, Gregor Fraser undefeated on 80 out of their 214 for 8 as they cantered to a 130 run victory.
In the Eastern Premier League Stoneywood Dyce did exceptionally well to keep Grange down to 200 for 8 off their 48 overs, Jamie King leading from the front with 3 for 30. The SDCC reply was soon in tatters as their top 5 only managed 4 runs between them, Gordon Goudie and Dylan Budge picking up the cheap wickets. SDCC were all out for 67, but results elsewhere went in their favour as Meigle were swept aside by 8 wickets by Watsonians, and runs from the usual source of Parker and McLean took Arbroath to a comfortable 7 wicket win over Stewarts Melville.In the big match at Goldenacre, Heriots made a slow start against Forfarshire, but Hayes Van Der Berg with 130 accelerated the total to 292 for 4. Mark Watt took 4 for 19 to knock the stuffing out of the Forfs response, and 90 from Scott Cameron was the highlight of their 208 all out, Heriots remain top of the table. The effects of the rain put paid to the RH Corstorphine versus Carlton match.