Ellon Gordon lose out in a close call to Portcullis
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For the second week running Ellon Gordon Cricket Club faced the same opposition Portcullis writes Ean Mackie, but this time at home in the Gordon Park where unfortunately the outcome was different on this occasion as Ellon lost by 24 runs.
Portcullis on winning the toss and due to the fact they had a weaker side than the previous week decided to bat first.
Little did they think what lay ahead.
Skipper Thorpe shared the opening exchanges with Forbes against the bowling of Greenfield and Fraser.
It wasn't until the fifth over that Ellon made the breakthrough when Thorpe was caught by Webb off the bowling of Greenfield.
Chisholm then joined Forbes for a short time adding a further 22 runs to the total.
Greenfield in the meantime had to retire from bowling due to injury.
The fall of Chisholm's wicket , however, brought about the change in approach by Portcullis as they became more aggressive especially Johston who had been the not out batsman the previous week with 45.
He and Forbes pushed the score along with a stand of 49 for the third wicket.
Forbes being bowled by Wade for what we understand was his highest ever score for the Club.
Johnston meanwhile continued his aggressive approach to the innings with a series of willing partners.
Ellon were dealt another blow during the 27 over when Barrett sustained an injury that forced him from bowling for the remaining part of the innings.
Johnston and partners took full advantage of this in partnerships of 41;24; 12 and 27 to take the total up to within striking range of 200 before their allotted overs ran out.
Johnston being on 96 not out was four runs short of his century at the end of the innings.
His knock included 12 fours and one 6 and at no time did he appear to be in any trouble against any of the Ellon bowlers.
No fewer than seven bowlers were used by Ellon as they endeavoured keep the score down despite having lost two of their main bowlers during the innings.
Most successful bowler for Ellon was once again young Morley Van Heerden
PORTCULLIS 196 for 7 -- C.Johnston 96 *; D. Forbes 43; B.Horne 12; K.Don 12 ; M Van Heerden 2 for 25.
Facing a much larger total than they expected Ellon opened their innings with the experienced pairing of Webb and Barrett.
Things were going along extremely well until Barrett played on in only the fourth over.
Skipper Greenfield joined Webb to put together what was to be the biggest partnership of the innings 47 with some lusty blows from both batsmen until Webb was caught right on the boundary going for another big hit.
Unfortunately for Ellon Greenfield fell shortly afterwards.
From this point onwards it was always going to be an uphill task for Ellon.
Wickets were falling at regular intervals against the bowling of Thorpe who was having a field day claiming seven scalps.
Some respectability was given to the innings with a last wicket partnership of 43 between Wade and Van Heerden (sen) with 10 overs left of the innings to go.
Most successful Portcullis bowler, without any doubt, was Skipper Thorpe with 7 for 36.
Like Ellon before them Portcullis used six bowlers in order to pull off their rather unexpected victory considering how the game between the two sides had ended the week before.
ELLON GORDON 172 ( in 30 overs ) -- B.Webb 60; R.Greenfield 31; R.Wade 24*; S.Middleton 11; O.Thorpe 7 for 36
This week Ellon are once again at home this time against Siyapa.
It is doubtful if they will be able to field as strong a side as they would have liked for this fixture and hopefully skipper Greenfield will be fit enough even to play if not to bowl.
