The big Grade 1 match this Saturday is at Groats Road as Pehlaj Tennetti leads a strong Knight Riders line up against Master Blasters Aberdeen skippered by Ajay Narne. MBA poked a big hole in the title hopes of Bon Accord last week as they beat them at Allan Park by 9 runs, and they could be considered serious challengers if they can derail unbeaten Knight Riders.
2nd Knight Riders could do their 1st XI a favour as they go to Links to face the other unbeaten side Crescent. Consistency of selection has been the key for Crescent, plus runs from the likes of Nathan Thangaraj and Abrar Pewekar, and they will be keen to accumulate as many points as they can before the holiday period. The AGSFPs against Bon Accord match at Rubislaw would have been the match of the weekend in recent years, but with Grammar propping up the table after 3 defeats, and Bons having won 2 and lost 2, it has lost a smidgeon of its fascination. The Bons season may well have bottomed out after they were skittled by Aberdeenshire in a T20 match on Thursday for 19 in under 6 overs, whilst Grammar will be encouraged by Alex Keith making it past 30 in his last 2 innings. A good game to win for either side.
In the bottom half of the table, Gordonians go to Allan Park to play Cults and Inverurie are at Mannofield. Messrs Thom and Lawrance boost the Inverurie team, and the hosts will be looking for some all round magic from Rahul Chandu.
A flaw in the scoring system for the Bon Accord Cup isn’t helping the teams to know what they need to do on Saturday to make the semi finals, but Fraserburgh could do with a win over visiting Siyapa, and the return of the Bowie brothers will improve their chances. Portcullis go to Banchory and Ellon are at Harlaw to play Grampian.
It’s match of the day time in Grade 3 as one unbeaten record will disappear at Huntly as they welcome Methlick. The visitors go with experience by the bucket load as they look to prove the old adage that you win nothing with kids. It’s a similar story as Crathie go to 2nd Gordonians, and their chances of victory will improve if they can stop the run spree of 13 year old Tanish Kirodian. 3rd Gordonians are at Dunecht who are without Steve Derrett, but will be hoping for runs from Matt Witz. Stoneywood Dyce go to Lairds to face 2nd Methlick and 2nd Siyapa will be looking to continue their recent spell of good results at Stonehaven.
Aberdeenshire are at People’s Park on Saturday in the SPCU North East Championship as they take on 2nd Stoneywood Dyce. Dian Forrester hit 139 not out in the T20 against Bons on Thursday, and SDCC may well be jumping the wall on a regular basis to hunt for the ball if he can maintain his early season clean hitting. Strathmore haven’t been setting the heather on fire, but the arrival of overseas batter Tiaan Brits will make their game at Countesswells against Gordonians distinctly more interesting. Gordonians include 5 under 18s in their line up to supplement the runs from the likes of Abrar Ahmed and Aman Arora, both of whom scored unbeaten half centuries as they beat Huntly in a T20 on Thursday.
Aside from Aberdeenshire, Meigle are the only other undefeated team in the league, and they look favourites to win on their trip to Freuchie. Jack Mitchell takes his Huntly side to Forfar to play Kinloch, and whilst Huntly haven’t exactly piled on the runs, their bowlers have the ability to put pressure on a brittle Kinloch batting line up. Dundee High will need big all round improvements if they are to avoid a drubbing from visiting Perth Doocot, and it could be a close game at Forthill as the 2nd teams of Forfarshire and Arbroath square up.
Scotland are in Texas to play the USA on Saturday, so this could lead to some curious results as the Eastern Premier League teams try to manage without their international stars. Stoneywood Dyce will be full of confidence as they head to Edinburgh to play Watsonian and Grange should still be too strong for Falkland who are still without Harsha Cooray. Forfarshire are taking the trip to Arbroath seriously as they reinstate the talented Christian Robertson into their 1st team. Heriots look too strong on paper for RH Corstorphine and Carlton would expect a positive result at Stewarts Melville.