INVERURIE LOOK TO DERAIL MANNOFIELD TITLE DREAM

Grade 1 leaders Mannofield have a strong team out at home to Inverurie. Rutwik Hegde and Shay Nanthakumaran add solidity to the more free flowing batters at their disposal, but if Fraser Lawrance can continue where he left off against Knight Riders last Saturday, Inverurie might pose a few problems.

Gordonians are close to full strength as they welcome Cults to Countesswells. Chamila Perera and Ashfaq Bashir will be looking to bamboozle the Cults batters, and if they can’t do any damage, young Pranav Gollakota will be looking to add to his 6 for 3 earlier in the season against Bons.

Master Blasters will be looking to get their title challenge back on track at Allan Park against Grampian, and Bon Accord will be strong favourites in the Links derby against Crescent.

Knight Riders could get their first win of the season under their belt as they take on AberGreen at Harlaw, but it may need to be a batting led win as they haven’t set the heather on fire with their bowling so far this season.

In Grade 2, 2nd Knight Riders go to Rubislaw to face the rampant AGSFPs bowling attack. AGSFPs are without Rob Swiergon.

Fraserburgh will be favourites at home against 2nd AberGreen. No Cory Bowie so a bit of pressure on Liam Bowie to put runs on the board for Fraserburgh.

2nd Grampian are unlikely to be at full strength as they have had to work hard to put a team together for their trip to Banchory. 

Portcullis are at home against Huntly, but they are at Groats Road rather than Duthie Park. The Huntly team is very settled and they are bowling well, so this could be a close game.

Bank holiday weekend and Ellon have had to concede their home match against Methlick. 

Conditions at Lairds may not be ideal, but the Grade 3 clash between 2nd Methlick and Dunecht goes ahead. 

On form 3rd Gordonians host 2nd Mannofield who add the experience of Lokesh Saraswat and Range Bandara. Young guns Adi Mukhopadhya and Riyansh Kirodian will be looking to carry on their impressive early season batting for Gordos.

The games between Crathie and Stoneywood Dyce and 2nd Master Blasters and 2nd Gordonians are both postponed due to venue availability issues.

In the SPCU North East Championship, Freuchie are along similar team lines to the side that beat Gordonians last Saturday, and their chances of beating Aberdeenshire may well hinge on the bowling of Robbie Wright. Kenny Reid returns to the Shire side who will miss the all round talents of Finlay Anderson.

Huntly should rate their chances at home against 2nd Forfarshire. Jack Mitchell and Jordan Squire have been spinning their way through the opposition this season, and with the regular seam options of Hussain, Newlands and Petrie available as well, Forfs may struggle to post a decent score.

Gordonians head to Perth in miserable form. They do have Abrar Ahmed back to open the batting, and if they can get through the opening burst from Safyaan Sharif they might be able to play themselves back into some sort of form. 

Arbroath should preserve their unbeaten record at home to Strathmore and Kinloch look a little understrength as they take on 2nd Falkland. The latter add Greg Chambers who will pose a problem or 2 for the Kinloch batters.

In the Eastern Premier League, Jamie King is back onboard for Stoneywood Dyce as they have a crucial trip to Edinburgh to play Watsonian. The hosts will miss the batting of Andrew Chalmers who has been carrying a misfiring top order. 

Forfarshire are without Craig Wallace but they should have enough batting and bowling to overcome the visiting Meigle.

League leaders Grange will be expected to win at Falkland with Chris Greaves likely to take wickets. Heriot’s are at RH Corstorphine who have Aayush Das back, but the Heriot’s bowling line up looks pretty fearsome alongside a strong batting unit.

The Carlton v Stewart’s Melville match could be the hardest match to predict as Ally Evans is missing from the Carlton attack. 

Following their comfortable 119 run win against Watsonians Women the Northern Lights return to Edinburgh this Sunday to play RHC Women who have a 100% record with two wins in what promises to be an interesting contest.

Cup action on Sunday has Aberdeenshire at home to Grange who are without Chris Greaves. The winners are at home to Carlton in the quarter finals. 

Gordonians, minus Himanshu Saraswat and Abrar Ahmed, are in Challenge Cup action at home to Dunnikier. The Dunnikier experience in the ESCA Championship mirrors that of Gordonians in the SPCU as they are also sitting 9th with 3 defeats. 

Crescent and Cults are at Links for their Aberdeenshire Cup clash and in the Reid Cup 2nd Gordonians are at 2nd Methlick.