It’s cup final time on Sunday as the first silverware of the season is handed over by NESC SCIO Chair Brian Lynas. Mannofield is the venue for the Bon Accord Cup final between AGSFPs and 2nd AberGreen with a 1pm start. If you look purely at the league table then it’s first against ninth and AGSFPs won their earlier league encounter by 100 runs. The beauty of cricket is that it just needs one player to have an outstanding game to win the match, and in T20 cricket, anything can happen.
The Reid Cup final between Stoneywood Dyce and 3rd Gordonians has been postponed due to a clash with the under 16 national finals day. Best of luck to Gordonians at that one as they face Perth Doocot in the semi final, with the winners of Carlton and Glasgow Accies waiting in the final. Carlton will be strong favourites to take the trophy.
Grade 1 leaders Master Blasters should win at Harlaw on Saturday as they face Grampian in a noon start. Bon Accord lost to Crescent in the Aberdeenshire Cup last Sunday, having lost their league match on Saturday as well, but they would be favourites to come out on top against Crescent at Links.
Gordonians have been playing well lately, but a trip to Allan Park to face Cults is an unpredictable event for all teams. George Hadden returns for a strong Inverurie as they host Mannofield who add Daniel Brown to their bowling attack. Knight Riders have found the form that won them the league last season and they should come out on top against AberGreen at Groats Road.
In Grade 2 Cory and Liam Bowie are both in the Fraserburgh line up as AGSFPs travel to the Broch. AGSFPs may well be concentrating on the Sunday cup final as they name a team missing most of their bowling attack. Geoff Morrison may have to bowl before the tail appear!
Ellon will need a big win over 2nd AberGreen if they are to get off the foot of the table and 2nd Grampian take on Methlick at Inverdee.
2nd Knight Riders have been on a winning streak of 7 games and they are at Huntly who again include the mercurially talented Liam Ferguson who will be hoping to entertain the local spectators.
If 3rd Gordonians had hoped to include a couple of players to get them eligible for the Reid Cup final, then 2nd Methlick scratching will have hampered that planning. The latter end of the summer holiday season will undoubtedly be affecting many teams. 2nd Gordonians take a strong team to Crathie and they will be looking to Scotland age group bowler Pranav Gollakota for wickets.
Top plays bottom at Inverdee as 2nd Master Blasters should be too good for the youngsters of 2nd Mannofield, and Dunecht go to Stonehaven who are without stalwarts Andy Gale and Nigel King.
The Scotland internationals are all back with their clubs and Safyaan Sharif will be looking for runs and wickets as Perth Doocot visit Gordonians in the SPCU North East Championship. Gordonians won the reverse fixture in Perth as Abrar Ahmed took the attack to Sharif.
The Huntly bowling attack looks a bit stretched without Jordan Squire and Irtaza Hussain as they look to hold on to 2nd position in the league at Forthill against 2nd Forfarshire. Freuchie are bound to have some regulars back as they go to Mannofield to play Aberdeenshire. Shire are close to full strength.
Runaway league leaders Arbroath make the short trip to Forfar to play Strathmore, and bottom side 2nd Falkland name a stronger than usual line up as Kinloch visit.
In the Eastern Premier League time is running out for Meigle as they try to avoid an instant return to the SPCU. Meigle are close to full strength, but unfortunately visitors Forfarshire have Michael Leask back and include recent signing Lennard Bester to add even more potential power to their batting.
If the Watsonian team sheet is accurate then anyone hoping to see Scotland star Oli Hairs at People’s Park on Saturday will be disappointed. Another opportunity for Stoneywood Dyce to see if they can execute batting and bowling in the same game and pick up a much needed win.
Chris Greaves is in for Grange as they host Falkland and Ali Evans is back for Carlton as they go to Stewart’s Melville. The Heriot’s v RH Corstorphine match will be interesting as Brandon McMullen returns to club action for RHC.
The Aberdeenshire Cup semi final between Knight Riders and Crescent is postponed to the 13th August as the latter are involved in the 2 Counties Cup (although it does have a new name) finals day.
Gordonians are at Perth on Sunday for the 3 Counties Cup finals day (a new name for that one as well) and they have a tough draw in the semi final as they play Arbroath. Holders Perth Doocot will expect to get past Kinloch in the other semi final.