Methlick host the Queen's cricket club
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Crathie, who play their home matches at Balmoral Castle, visited Lairds on Saturday to take on the 2nds.
The whole ground was in glorious form and the pitch immaculate, a tribute to the work of the grounds team.
Methlick batted first, Dave Chalmers seeing a change of opening partner in Jason Merchant, saving Dod for later.
The Crathie opening attack was tight with only a wide conceded in the first 3 overs, Merchant looking to change the momentum hit out at a wide ball, could only scoop it to a deep gully.
Fraser Grant was in at 3, looking to regain the early season form, could only score a single before being clean bowled.
Deni now joined Chalmers who was in control and picking up singles steadily, but needed to find a partner to get the run rate up.
Deni quickly looked more aggressive, but offered up 3 catching opportunities as he scored a quick 11, the innings ended with a straight ball breaching the defences.
Dod Duncan now joined Dave, the Turra pairing in tandem again, looking to push on especially as the change bowlers were on.
Both men were striking boundaries and taking any quick singles on offer.
The score moved on to 44 off 22 overs before Chalmers got into a tangle against a slow ball and was bowled off his pads, he had made a solid 14, seen off the bowling attack and the team could bat out the 40 overs.
Dod was joined by Mike Bremaneson, but his innings was curtailed by an injury so Graeme Fowlie came to the wicket, hitting a lovely sweep shot to the square leg boundary to get going.
Just as this dangerous pairing started to move Dod lost his wicket, bowled by a straight one, a very important 34 runs added from his bat, mostly in boundaries.
Charlie Davis came in and looked lively immediately, some great running and calling put pressure on the fielding side, adding 27 runs.
This was the best partnership of the innings and got Methlick to 96.
Liam Davis joined Graeme and immediately hit a fantastic cover drive for 4, the shot of the innings. Methlick ended on 102 for 6, a competitive total, but by consensus was probably 20 runs short.
Methlick opened the defence with the Davis brothers Charlie and Liam, very different bowlers and a credit to youth development of the club.
Liam, the skilled left arm swing, skiddy bowler, opened at the River end with a poor opening over and conceded 3 wides and a single run.
Showing resiliance, he came back strongly to clean bowl Elson for only 5 runs.
At the other end Charlie was unable to get the bounce he normally does, was unable threaten and was replaced by Graeme Fowlie, whose extra pace and skiddy action suited the pitch better. Immediately the run rate slowed as Liam gained control at the other end. Graeme picked up his 1st wicket, bowling the other opener Morris for 15.
Fraser Grant now replaced Liam at the River end.
Bowling tidily, he picked up a wicket in his 3rd over, getting an LBW shout confirmed.
Methlick were now very much in the game and with vocal support from the victorious 1st team who returned early, looked to push for victory. Fowlie switched ends, his pace troubled Thomas and he could only top edge to skipper Deni at mid-on, the game was now in the balance as Crathie required 11 to win and Methlick felt momentum was in their favour.
Young batsman Toby Atkinson was run out by his father who could expect some grief on the journey home.
Next over Fowlie bowled Henzell for a duck, the crowd went wild!
Immediately he had a strong LBW shout declined by the umpire. Liam got one through the dangerous Schuneman, wickets were falling steadily and the runs had dried up.
By now however, Crathie had inched closer to the 103 target, a 4 off Fowlie saw them home with only 3 wickets standing.
Yet another extremely close and intense match, played in great spirit and was great to be part of.
As suspected Methlick were 20 runs short, but they did post a competitive total and batted out the 40 overs.
On the response, the bowling was generally very good, but too many wides were conceded.
Fowlie was the pick of the bowlers, returning 3 for 22, Liam took 2 for 24 off his 10 overs.
The team is continuing to gel and develop under the leadership of Deni and can look forward with some confidence.
Chalmers is a solid opener, Duncan and a few others can be destructive but we need to see more runs and bigger partnerships.
The bowling unit is doing well and there is excellent back up in the field.
