It’s as you were in Grade 1 as all the matches fell victim to the Saturday rain. A 30 over match was started at Links, and Master Blasters were struggling at 81 for 6 against Bon Accord when the umpire called a halt. Only 2 more rounds of games left for Siyapa, Master Blasters and Grampian to negotiate themselves out of the relegation spots, and for Grammar to protect their lead over Bons at the top.
Mannofield secured the Grade 2 title by beating Portcullis at Duthie Park. Portcullis batted first, and 54 from Ewen Chisholm was the main contribution as they were bowled out for 130 in the 40th over. Mannofield youngsters Manu Saraswat and Daniel Brown picked up 3 wickets apiece, and it was another junior, Ken Yahathugoda with 65, who hurried Mannofield to a 7 wicket win in 19 overs. Ellon opened up a gap over the chasing pack for 2nd place by beating Ellon at Lairds. Adam Veersema made 43 as Methlick were bowled out for 125, the evergreen Barrett and Greenfield both taking 4 for 21. Ellon won in the 21st over for the loss of 5 wickets with Ali Addy top scoring on 48. 2nd AGSFPs pulled off a surprise victory at Fraserburgh as they bowled out the hosts for 146. Agha Haider with 4 for 21 and Ranald Wilkie with 3 for 17 did the damage for Grammar with the ball, and 51 from Leston D’Costa, plus an unbeaten 64 from Aly Macdonald saw them to a 5 wicket win.
In Grade 3, Banchory moved into 2nd place with a comprehensive demolition of 2nd Methlick. Sam Rotheram took 4 for 8 as Methlick were bowled out for 57 in the 20th over, that total being overhauled in the 10th over, Fraser Grant picking up the 3 Banchory wickets that fell. Chris Bell would have been well chuffed to have taken 3 for 16 as Crathie reduced Stonehaven to 74 for 7, but rain intervened and the match was abandoned. It was a similar story at Harlaw as 2nd Gordonians made a good start with the bat against 2nd Grampian, Ryan Davis unbeaten on 49 as play was halted with Gordos 117 for 1 after 28 overs. No play was possible in the Huntly v Dunecht game.
All the games in the SPCU North East Championship were washed out. Only one game started in the Eastern Premier League, Stoneywood Dyce getting off to their now standard poor start with the bat as they were 15 for 2 when play ceased after 7 overs against Stewarts Melville. 2 more weekends of action left in the EPL, and barring some tales of the unexpected, SDCC should be safe in the EPL for 2022.