Methlick Cricket Club defeat league rivals Huntly
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Methlick Cricket Club's closest competition for the league title Huntly were the visitors to Lairds on Saturday, writes Mark Woodhouse.
A narrow victory earlier in the season for Methlick in the corresponding fixture only gave an indication of what to expect as the Huntly team tended to be an unknown entity.
Another hard wicket and dry outfield looked as though runs were on the menu and, given Methlick’s powerful batting line-up, the home side were unexpectedly asked to bat first.
The normally reliable opening partnership of Mark Woodhouse and Alasdair Smith fell somewhat short as Woodhouse, after two powerful boundaries, got a faint nick and was caught behind for eight.
Tom Acton came in at three and from the start looked aggressive and assured and totally dominated the bowling.
When Smith was finally out for 12 the two had put on 44 runs and Methlick were scoring at six and over.
Mike Hordley, suffering from a dip in form, flashed at a good length ball and was bowled by Tandon for one.
Steve Murphy joined Acton and the pair dealt out further punishment to the bowlers and at the 20 over mid-point in the innings Methlick had reached 104.
Acton, milking the bowling, reached his 50 with three sharply run singles. He was finally out bowled by Coffey for 64, but a good platform had been set for the middle order to take advantage of the last 14 overs.
Daniel Reeve continued the momentum, firstly with Murphy until he was bowled by M Petrie for 32, and then partnering the hard-hitting Mohamed Rehman.
Reeve added 27 until he too was bowled by Petrie. With 181 on the board and five overs to go it was important to maximise the runs and the reliable Brian Anderson, with a mixture of nudging and ambling, added 14 and Grant Cordiner pitched in with four not out.
Rehman remained unbeaten on 18 to give a very challenging target of 218 to win.
After yet another splendid Methlick tea things started well for Huntly. M Myron-Petrie and Dawar took the score to 34 from 10 overs, but the pressure from the bowling of Tim Duffy and Tom Acton and excellent work in the field meant that the visitors were falling behind the run rate.
It was this pressure that led to the first wicket as Rehman took a sharp catch at mid-on to remove Myron-Petrie off Duffy for six.
In the very next ball Duffy bowled the incoming Leggatt for a golden duck leaving L Myron-Petrie to face a hat-trick delivery which was just survived.
Reeve and Hordley were first change bowlers. The accuracy of Hordley kept up the scoreboard pressure and Reeve was the hit-man bowling Dawar for 26 and Coffey for two, courtesy of an Acton catch.
When Reeve bowled Tandon for four the Huntly innings was in tatters with four wickets down, but more importantly, only 46 runs off 15 overs. The 218 target seemed a long way away.
The only thing standing between Methlick and an early victory was the stalwart defence of Myron-Petrie with an excellent rearguard stand.
As the required run-rate accelerated alarmingly the Huntly tail knew they could only play for pride and did an excellent job to hold on to the final two wickets.
Myron-Petrie was unbeaten on 42 as Huntly ended their 40 overs for 126. The pick of the bowling was Reeve with three for 13 off six overs.
Cordiner weighed in with two for 16, but it was generally some tight bowling and excellent fielding that gave Methlick victory by 91 runs.
What price now for Methlick to go through the season with a 100 per cent record with only four matches left?
Next week is the big one with the first team against second team at Lairds. This could be the game that gives Methlick firsts the title, but the seconds have the determination and on their day are capable of springing surprises.
Unfortunately, the second’s warm up game against Stoneywood Dyce at Groat’s Road on Saturday did not go as planned.
Despite a fine 50 not-out from the reliable Rhodesian, Bryan Carr, and a pair of 22s from Alan Hill and Jason Marchant a decent score of 144 was easily surpassed by Stoneywood, only losing one wicket in the process, care of Fraser Grant.
