Ellon fail to reach Mannofield's total
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In what turned out to be a very high scoring game last Saturday, on a perfect batting wicket at Mannofield, Ellon Gordon failed by 59 runs to overtake the Mannofield total of 247 in their Grade 2 fixture.
On winning the toss Mannofield elected to bat first but it was Ellon who had the better commencement to the game when they captured two wickets for only 37 runs, one of whom was that of Indi Yatahugoda the Mannofield skipper.
It was his son Ken and Dickenson , their number 4, who set about the rescue act with a very impressive stand of 52 for the third wicket.
This however, was only the beginning as latecomer S Nanthakumuan replaced young Ken after the fall of the latters wicket and this turned out to be the last victim that Ellon were able to capture in the rest of the innings as he and Dickenson put together an unbroken partnership of 172 with some superb batting on what was an excellent batting track without either of them really giving a chance during their long partnership.
Dickenson finishing with a score of 115 which included 18 fours and a six while Nanthkumuan ended up being on 60 not out which included seven fours.
This was certainly one of the highest partnerships ever scored against Ellon in a Grade match.
It wasn’t as though Ellon had fielded badly as no catches were dropped it was more a case of they didn’t have a bowler on the day who could trouble the batsmen often enough.
The two batsmen involved demonstrated how to bat on such a wicket by showing plenty of patience and displaying a considerable array of shots all round the wicket.
The three wickets Ellon did capture were shared between three bowlers
Mannofield 247 for 3 from their alloted 40 overs -- J.Dickenson 115 not out; S. N an thakumaran 60 not out ; K Yatathugoda 32; J.Barrett 1 for 22
If Ellon were to have any chance of overtaking the Mannofield total in order to win the fixture one if not two of their top order batsmen were going to have to perform in a similar manner to that of the top two run getters for Mannofield with patience and stroke play.
Their response received a real hammer blow when Davies rather uncharacteristically chased a wide one off the second ball of the innings to be caught in the covers.
Just the start the Ellon innings needed.
Ellon’s in form batsman Barrett then joined Veldsman at the crease for a partnership of 93 with both batsmen displaying the type of batting that would be required for Ellon to win the game before Ellon were dealt a further blow when the first bit of bad luck struck when Barrett was dismissed when Cummings held onto a low down delivery for caught and bowled just at a time when Ellon really looked as thought they were going to go all the way.
They were then dealt an even further blow in Cummings next over when he had Webb superbly caught at deep square leg by an incredible catch taken by the fielder while on the run.
The fall of Webb’s wicket brought skipper Greenfield to the middle to join Veldsman who unfortunately was bowled shorty afterwards by Bandara for an invaluable 61 runs scored in typical BA fashion.
The loss of this wicket put even more pressure onto skipper Greenfield as the last batsman likely to see Ellon over the line.
A further three wickets fell before Ellon’s last remaining hope Greenfield was out to another superb catch in the deep by century maker Dickenson when the score was 172.
Although Ellon added a further 16 runs they eventually were all out in the 33rd over when Saraswat claimed a further two wickets in the same over.
They say that catches can win matches and that certainly was the case in this game. Ellon never dropped any because they weren’t given any to drop while Mannofield held onto three absolutely superb ones.
Two home bowlers shared the honours with four wickets each.
Quilter Cheviot Ellon Gordon 188 all out in 32.4 overs.
B.Veldsman 61; R.Greenfield 41; J.Barrett 27; M.Saraswat 4 for 19 and A.Cummings 4 for 41
This week Ellon are at home for the local derby with near neighbours Methlick when it is hoped that Ellon can get back in the winning vein again.
