Crescent secured their Grade 1 status for the 2022 season with a convincing 7 wicket win over Master Blasters at the Links. Master Blasters made 148 largely thanks to 52 from Chetan Aggarwal and 44 from Ajay Narne. In reply Crescent chased the total down with ease with Alex Pereira 44 and Abrar Pewekar 40* being their top run getters. Gordonians vs Grammar turned out to be a lot closer than what was predicted in this weeks preview. Gordos batted first and compiled 159 for 9 at the end of their innings with Jamil Shaikh playing a captains innings of 58*. Grammar got home with 3 wickets to spare with Agha Haider and Ranald Wilkie at the crease at the time. Inverurie defeated Grampian by 101 runs. 50’s from Trevor Norval and Chris Watson helped Inverurie post 216 for 3 and in reply Grampian lost the big wickets of Josino Aluvathingal and Jeby George for single figure scores both bowled by Fraser Lawrence. Maynul Nadmin scored a quickfire 52 but once he was caught off the bowling of George Hadden by Mark Strachan the innings subsided to 115 all out. Siyapa and Bon Accord served up a high scoring game at Harlaw as Bon Accord triumphed by 39 runs. Batting first the Bons posted a daunting 262 for 6 with Fazal Awan 65 and Haroon Ahmed 63 not out being the major scorers. Siyapa gave the chase a good go and 60 from Salman Jafri helped them to a commendable 223 for 9. Knight Riders defeated Cults by 6 wickets at Allan Park. Cults scored 138 all out with Extras top scoring with 41. Pehlaj Tenneti with 45 helped see the Knights home with relative ease.
In Grade 2 Mannofield piled on the runs at home to 2nd Grammar. Mannofield posted 266 for 7 and in reply Grammar made 167 all out to give Mannofield a 99 run victory. 2nd Knight Riders made short work of Ellon at Groats Road. 5 for 8 from Shri Bheema’s Balamurali Balaji did the damage (if that plug isn’t worth a free korma I don’t know what does!) in skittling Ellon for 58 and then the Knights knocked it off only losing 2 wickets in the process. Young Ross Fraser deserves some credit top scoring for Ellon then taking the 2 wickets to fall. Fraserburgh triumphed in a low scoring affair at Duthie Park against Portcullis. The Broch Bradman Cory Bowie top scored with 62 in the Broch’s 117 total then good bowling by messrs Gospel, P.O’Neill and Rennie reduced Portcullis to 97 all out despite 30 from Keir Paterson.
Shock of the day happened at the Cowdray Estate as Dunecht toppled league leaders 2nd Grampian by 6 wickets. Grampian were bundled out for 31 with Steve Derrett taking 5 for 8. Dunecht did lose 4 wickets in reply but knocked off the total inside 15 overs. One can only imagine what Dunecht got up to after this win if their past partying exploits are anything to go by! Banchory had the most comprehensive win of the day beating Huntly by 132 runs. A brutal 83 from Sam Rotheram helped Banchory to 167 all out. Huntly were bowled out for 35 with Chad Abbott taking 4 for 3 and Luke Hendrikson 3 for 6. Crathie had a narrow 12 runs victory over 2nd Gordonians. Crathie posted 156 for 8 with Andrew McKimm top scoring with 45* and Barry Geddes 34. Yet another 50 from Ryan Davis led with the way for Gordos but 3 for 23 from Mike Baldry helped restrict them to 144 for 5.
The destination of the SPCU North East Championship was as good as decided on Saturday, although some bizarre results could still see Gordonians crowned the winners. The match at People’s Park was delayed as Gordonians players were held up in the traffic chaos around the Haudagain roundabout, no such problems for Stoneywood Dyce 2nds as they had factored in time for a warm up! Himanshu Saraswat and Prashant Srininvasan reduced the SDCC batting to 28 for 5 and the innings subsided to 52 all out in the 24th over. Abrar Ahmed was unbeaten on 29 as Gordos hurried to victory in the 11th over. They stay 3rd in the league, close behind Falkland and Freuchie. Falkland overtook Freuchie at the top, batting first in their local derby, and posting 243 for 3 off their 45 overs. Harsha Cooray and Lyle Robertson were undefeated on 75 and 56 respectively as they put the tie beyond Freuchie. Ian Stonebridge made 60 in response, but he was one of 4 victims for Robertson as Freuchie were all out for 185. Aberdeenshire made a great start at Strathmore as Kenny Reid raced to a half century, but the game was brought to an abrupt halt at the drinks break when one of the Shire players unexpectedly received a positive Covid result. Jack Mitchell took 4 for 17 for Huntly, with Andrew Petrie also amongst the wickets with 3 for 14, as they bowled out Kinloch for 131. Dan Lentz top scored with 41 in the Huntly innings, but 25 wides didn’t help the Kinloch chances as Innes Parkin was the local hero with an unbeaten 26 to win with 1 wicket and 3 balls to spare. Forfarshire 2nds had a comfortable win over Arbroath with Graeme Garden taking 5 wickets and making runs as they chased down the Arbroath total of 103 for the loss of 2 wickets. Perth Doocot totalled 213 for 8 against Dundee High and Ivor Patterson picked up 4 for 17 to bowl out Dundee for 118.
Heriots secured the Eastern Premier League title by beating Arbroath. Heriots lost their top 4 for 116, but an unbeaten century from Michael Shean gave them a total of 346 for 5, well out of reach of Arbroath who were all out for 177. Meigle dropped to the foot of the table as they were bowled out for 82 by Grange who then dashed to an 8 wicket win in only 12 overs. Stoneywood Dyce had another difficult day in Edinburgh as Watsonians shot them out for 94, Jan Stander top contributor with 23. Watsonians knocked off the runs for the loss of one wicket in the 18th over. Craig Wallace made 78 for Forfarshire as they were bowled out for 163 for Carlton, and unfortunately for Forfs, Carlton had already scored 205. Stewarts Melville moved into 9th position by beating RH Corstorphine. Stew Mel made 214 for 8 and in a thrilling conclusion they restricted RHC to 213 for 9. This sets up a relegation cup final for next Saturday as Stew Mel go to Meigle.