Siyapa's batting strength wins out at Methlick
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Methlick 2nds hosted Siyapa who are vying for top place in Grade 3, so a tough match was anticipated writes Mark Woodhouse.
Siyapa batted first and with a strong batting line up, it was critical that Methlick broke through quickly.
Liam Davis opened from the river end and from ball one threatened with some lovely swing bowling on a great line and length.
At the other end Deni opted to open with the crafty leg spin from Mo Rehman, who also maintained a tight line and length.
In the 3rd over from Davis, he got a big in swinging ball through the defence of Usman who made only 7.
Mo got in on the act in his fourth over as he enticed a false stroke from the bat of Kamal, who could only scoop a loose shot to Liam at mid-off.
In the next over, Liam took the wicket of the dangerous Zia, Deni taking a superb catch at mid-on after a bit of juggling. Siyapa were now 22 for 3 off 10 overs and the game was finely balanced.
For the next 12 overs Methlick maintained a degree of control, but couldn’t take that next wicket. At that point Siyapa started to open up and despite rotating the change bowlers of Grant, Fowlie and Low, Deni couldn’t wrestle the control back.
Deni brought Liam back on for the 33rd over and in his second over he bowled Ibrahim who had made a classy 60 which lifted spirits.
In his very next over Liam trapped Masood LBW to deny the Siyapa batsman a deserved century, he was out on 91. Graeme Fowlie was bowling quickly and accurately from the other end and was deserving of a few wickets.
Methlick pegged the scoring rate back a bit at the end of the innings. Siyapa closed their innings on 245 for 5.
Liam bowled magnificently, ending with 4 for 34 off his ten overs, but needed more support from his fellow bowlers.
In response Deni sent Fraser out to open the batting alongside the now regular opener Ross Moir. Sikander and Sabock, the opening Siyapa attack, were accurate but it took a change of bowler to make the breakthrough as Fraser was caught at mid-on for 6.
Ross joined him back in the pavilion in the next over, having made a determined 1 run. Deni made a quick-fire 10 runs before missing straight one from Nisar, the skiddy and accurate change bowler.
At the other end Mo was looking secure, but needed a partner, it was not to be either Scott Gordon or Dod Duncan who departed for 1 and 4 respectively, both bowled by Nisar. Fowlie joined Mo and did a great job holding his end up and rotating the strike for Mo to go through his full range of shots and move the scoreboard on.
The best partnership of the innings was ended on 44 when Asaboor bowled Fowlie on 6 runs. Chalmers was in at 8 and was soon congratulating Mo on his well constructed 50, which included 9 boundaries.
The win was now out of the question, so gaining batting points was the aim now.
Chalmers striking some lovely boundaries was joined by Mark Colley-Davis who looked solid in defence for a few overs before succumbing to Nisar.
Liam was next in, but was quickly out, caught behind as he top edged an attempted pull shot, leaving David Low to face the last ball the innings.
He smashed it straight down the wicket and had it not hit the stumps might have been a four. The innings ended on 129 for 9, Chalmers on 17 no.
This was a very creditable performance by the 2nds against a strong Siyapa side who are fighting hard for a promotion spot.
Davies bowled exceptionally well as he continues to improve every week, Fowlie was unlucky in returning 0 for 33. Mo Rheman was the stand out batsman, getting good support from Fowlie and Chalmers.
Next up is a crucial game at home to 2nd Gordonians, one of the other sides competing for fourth spot.
