Competitive weekend cricket sees Methlick take on Dunecht and Stonehaven
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Methlick 2nds played twice over the weekend, both were highly competitive games resulting in exciting and tense finishes.
Correspondent Mark Woodhouse writes -
Dunecht hosted Saturday’s game on grade 3 business and batted first on a typically mossy and bouncy pitch with a lush outfield which would restrict boundary scoring.
Dunecht lost the first wicket in the 3rd over as Acton got through Derret’s defences and knocked over middle stump.
A strong partnership then developed and put pressure on the Methlick bowling line up.
An inspired catch at square leg by Morgan off the accurate and miserly Choudry saw Bohpsale depart for 30, just as he looked to be taking the game away from Methlick.
With the door now open Methlick took six wickets for only 29 runs and wickets shared amongst the bowling attack, with all ten fielders getting a bowl.
The final partnership put on 27 to get Dunecht up to 123 ao off 33.2 overs which was probably 30 runs below par.
Jones snr took 3 for 5, Choudry, 2 for 18 and Morgan 1 for 5 off 4 overs were the outstanding bowling returns.
A young opening partnership of Grant and Jones jnr set about the Methlick reply.
Unfortunately Jones was out quickly for only one run, clean bowled.
Making his first appearance of the season Dod Duncan hit some meaty blows before missing a straight one, adding only five runs.
Choudry joined Grant and settled the innings down with solid defence and nicking singles regularly.
At the other end Grant was looking assured, hitting some excellent boundaries, including a huge 6 over cow corner, driving Methlick well ahead of the required run rate.
He retired temporarily as dehydration overcame him allowing skipper Deni Sarafimoski to join Choudry.
These two took control of the game with Deni playing a real captains inning with a string of boundaries from his bat.
With the game looking to be in control, Methlick then lost wickets quite quickly, Choudry was bowled and Deni LBW to Baldry, then Morgan was out 1st ball to the same bowler.
Acton and Jones snr steadied the ship before being out for 21 and 9 respectively.
Grant now returned as Methlick only needed 11 runs from 7 overs and was joined by the veteran Chalmers, two quick wickets saw the pendulum swing in Dunecht’s favour as both Chalmers and Minter were out for ducks.
Ross Moir was last man in and played solidly to allow Grant to see Methlick home with a pull through square leg and end on a career best of 35 NO, a tremendous knock in a real pressure situation.
Methlick’s second game of the weekend was away to Stonehaven, a 20-20 Reid cup game.
Methlick were invited to bat first on a really good looking pitch.
Deni opened alongside Saturday’s hero Grant, hoping the pair could replicate their heroics of the previous day, it was not to be as Grant was out for nought, a harsh reality for the youngster.
Two other upcoming Methlick youngsters, Liam and Charlie Davis quickly followed, also for ducks putting the batting side under immediate pressure on 8 for 3.
Fortunately club stalwart Steve Murphy was on hand and joined Deni in the middle to calm things down, both players scored heavily as Stonehaven rotated the bowling attack and gave some of their youngsters a run out.
Unfortunately, having struck consecutive boundaries, Deni saw his off stump removed by one of these youngsters on 16.
New to the club, Jason Merchant joined Murphy who was now in full stride, and immediately look solid in defence and rotated the strike.
These two took the score on to 64 before Merchant was caught in the deep for a well constructed 14 runs.
Breminason was next man in who set out to support Murphy in getting Methlick to a defendable score, Mikey score 9 runs before being clean bowled as the last over loomed.
Chalmers was next in, and watched from close quarters as Murphy took 22 off the last over, finishing on 70 NO and saw Methlick to 129 for 7 off the 20 overs, a strong total.
After a quick turnaround, and no tea, Stonehaven openers set about overtaking the Methlick total.
Liam Davis opened the bowling and struck in his first over, getting a big inswinger through the Stonehaven opener’s attempted defence to remove the middle stump, the perfect start.
Davis took a further two critical wickets, both with inswinging bowls which from the left hand around action the Stonehaven batsmen could not cope with, he certainly is one for the future with careful nurturing.
At the other end Fraser Grant was bowling well with no luck, Stonehaven were scoring regular boundaries and keeping up with the required rate.
Another youngster, playing only his second game of cricket, David Low replaced Davis to bowl in tandem with Breminason.
Charlie Davis took a couple of outstanding catches at long on off Breminason and Moir as the game entered the critical phase.
Several chances were dropped however, critically twice dropping Alex who score his 47 runs very quickly, this probably cost the match.
Methlick were still in the game as it entered the last couple of overs however 13 off the penultimate over by Moir left Stonehaven requiring only four runs off the final over.
Fraser Grant took responsibility for it but on the fourth ball of the over conceded a four, the winning runs.
This was another tight game for the seconds, the second of the weekend, but there were several strong performances over the busy weekend of cricket.
A group of youngsters in particular made telling contributions across the games which is boding well for the club’s future.
Methlick 1st XI vs Stoneywood Dyce saw the home side hoping to carry on their undefeated run against Stoneywood with Lairds looking as good as it has ever done, but MCC were thwarted when the visitors were unable to field a team.
30 points were awarded to Methlick and they maintained their 100 per cent record but it was just not the same as actually playing a game.
Hopefully Saturday's visit from Crathie will go ahead as planned.
