Dynamic partnership isn't enough to save Ellon from defeat at Fraserburgh
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For their last game of a disappointing season Ellon Cricket Club travelled down to the Broch to play Fraserburgh writes Ean Mackie.
The only good feature of the game was the 133 run partnership for the second wicket between two of Ellon's more experienced players Veldsman and Barrett.
Sent into bat first on a hard wicket with a hard and bumpy outfield surrounding it Ellon opened with Veldsman and Ovenston but this was soon broken with the nineth delivery of the game.
That then brought Barrett into join Veldsman and between them they added 133 runs for the 2nd wicket with some glorious shots.
After two glorious sixes in successive overs Veldsman was bowled by Broadley for 62.
Grenfield followed soon after bowled in Shirzad's first over.
Two further wickets fell seven runs later when first Barrett was caught behind and then Wade was caught at cover. Sandham and Parks rallied things for a short time before Broadley struck again bowling Parks. .
Once skipper Sandham was out three runs later the end was soon in sight with opening bowler Gospel returning to take the last two wickets in the first over of his second spell.
The fact Ellon only had ten players didn't exactly help their cause.
Most successful bowler for Fraserburgh was one of their Afghan newcomers U.Shirzad with 3 for 15 backed up by the only young lady in Grade cricket, as far as we know; Broadley also with 3 wickets.
Ellon Gordon 170 ( 36.5 overs ) -- B.Veldsman 62 ; J.Barrett 45; M.Sandham 15; Shirzad 3 for 15 ; L.Broadley 3 for 44
For Ellon to be in with a chance of victory in their last game they needed quick wickets and this they duly got especially when they had Corrie Bowie brilliantly caught behind the wicket by Veldsman off the second ball.
Corrie's wicket was followed 27 runs later when Sandham pulled off an unbelieveable one handed catch to dismiss Gray another danger man.
Two further wickets fell before Skipper Bowie was joined by the hard hitting Gospel to put together a match winning partnership of 56 for the fifth wicket which was only ended when Sandham caught and bowled Gospel with hIs first ball.
With the fall of this wicket it brought about renewed hope of Ellon being able to pull off victory after all.
But this was soon denied Ellon as skipper Bowie received back up from two of the other Afghan players in their squad to pull the Broch into a match winning position which was finally finished off in style by Bowie with two fours off Sandham in the 32 nd over.
Most successful Ellon bowlers were there two openers Greenfield and Wade with three wickets apiece.
On hindsight it might have been better to have kept them on to complete their bowling spells instead of leaving them with two overs each to bowl. later in the innings which incidentally cost just as much as did their opening six overs each.
Fraserburgh 172 for 8 ( 32.2 overs ) -- L.Bowie 57*; C.Gospel 39; Z Uryakhil 16:
R.Wade 3 for 36;R.Greenfield 3 for 39.
