As the season reaches its midway point, the race for the Grade 1 title remains highly competitive, with the top five teams each having two defeats and separated by just 4.8%.
The match of the day saw top of the league Bon Accord, without prospective MP Tauqeer Malik, facing Master Blasters at Inverdee1. Bon Accord posted a colossal 279, with an astonishing 60 extras. However, a swift 121 from Abhinav Kache, aided by 86 from Chandrashekar Mallireddy, saw Master Blasters chase the total down in just 35.4 overs.
Current league champions Gordonians secured a comfortable 7 wicket victory over bottom of the league Inverurie with Pranav Gollakota taking out the dangerous Inverurie middle order as they were restricted to 152 for 7. Gordos chased down victory in the 21st over.
At Burnett Park, Banchory seemed in control with Knight Riders at 5-4, but Vijay Ramaswamy’s impressive 112 shifted the odds, allowing Knight Riders to amass 239. Banchory could only manage 181 in response. Aberdeen Grammar stunned Cults at Rubislaw, bowling them out for 91. Despite an early setback, skipper Agha Haider’s half-century led Grammar to an 8 wicket win. At Bogbeth Park, a fine half-century from new acquisition Abhilash Vitthala helped Mannofield reach 233. Despite Sohaib Tahseen’s valiant 74, Crescent collapsed from 113 for 3 to 146 all out as Mannofield won by 87 runs.
In Grade 2, league leaders Grampian recovered from being 51 for 5 to ease to a 3 wicket victory after restricting 2nd Gordonians to 112.
Harshit Gupta’s 58 guided 2nd Master Blasters to a thrilling 3 wicket win over 2nd Grammar, Bala Balaji removing the Grammar top 4 as they were restricted to 211 for 7. Mohammed Khan hit the last ball for 4 to complete a frantic last few overs. 2nd Knight Riders piled up 232 for 5 at Links as they beat Fraserburgh by 32 runs.
A superb 53 from young Charlie Kennedy helped Huntly to a total of 137 against Methlick for whom John Moore picked up 5 for 22. Methlick have yet to master the intricacies of a run chase and ran out of overs with their score on 123 for 9.
Former Portcullis stalwart Harry Murphy top scored with 30 for 3rd Grammar, setting a target of 172 for Portcullis to chase at Duthie Park. Portcullis struggled in reply, bowled out for 77.
The standout performance of the weekend was at Gordon Park, where Ellon’s staggering opening partnership of 282 from Brian Veldsman (148) and Johnny Barrett (118) overwhelmed Dunecht, who could only muster 113 for 8 in response. To quote more than one of the Dunecht players ‘we didn’t bowl badly’.
2nd Grampian now top the Grade 3 table after defeating Stonehaven by 2 wickets. Stonehaven posted 137 for 6 which looked quite useful as Grampian were reduced to 51 for 6, but the quality of the Grampian lower order saw them home.
Varun Kumar’s century (122) powered 3rd Gordonians to 224 against 2nd Banchory who could only manage 157 in reply. 58 from Travis Dauth rescued Stoneywood Dyce from a poor start to their innings against 2nd Methlick. Their eventual 163 for 9 proved a step too far for Methlick who laboured to 113 for 8. Crathie made the long trip to Fraserburgh and put 162 on the scoreboard that proved too much for 2nd Fraserburgh. They batted out their 40 overs for 130 for 8, Michael Watson batting through for an unbeaten 70. On Sunday, top of the table Aberdeen Tigers faced 2nd Mannofield, and Calum Howard’s all-round performance (37 not out and 6-39) led to a 28-run win for Mannofield. 2nd Mannofield made a season’s best 212 for 7 with Clark Cameron topping the scoring with 47. Sagor Das made a quick 76 for the Tigers but they were all out for 184 with 11 overs unused. The Tigers drop to 4th in the table.
In the SPCU North East Championship, Aberdeenshire continued their march to the title (9 wins from 9 matches) as Calum Howard was the pick of their bowlers with 3 for 24 to bowl out Dundee High for 129. Kenny Reid made sure Dundee had plenty of time to get home for the football as he smashed 76 off 45 balls as they cruised to a 10 wicket win.
Gordonians woes continued as they were bowled out for 154 by Huntly, Jaco Beneke taking 5 for 23. A quick unbeaten 78 by Beneke gave Huntly an 8 wicket win.
Ewan Davidson led from the front at Perth with 92 as Stoneywood Dyce made an impressive 219 for 8. Nathan Elliott took 5 for 30, including the wicket of Safyaan Sharif, as Perth surprisingly crumbled to 125 all out.
Strathmore could only total 83 in an 8 wicket defeat at Freuchie, and the 197 made by St Modans was made to look quite ordinary as 2nd Forfarshire won by 9 wickets.