Defeatin cupfinal league warmup

Meigle were knocked off top spot of the S&PCU North East Championship by Granite City outfit Gordonians on Saturday.

Bowler Murray Scott, however, is really starting to show his undoubted potential as he gave another assured and disciplined performance with the ball.

Meigle had the visitors to Victory Park on the ropes briefly at 137 for four with just over 10 overs to go as the away side’s pro, Krutik Patel, was trapped plum LBW by Iain Stewart.

Hamza Arshad – a discovery from the Aberdeen side’s local Grades leagues – took the visitors to 237-5 with a 66-ball 88.

The spectacular knock, which included five fours and half a dozen sixes, meant Meigle were always up against it.

This was compounded by the fact they went ahead with key batsmen Wimberley, Duff, Knight and all-rounder Morrison all missing.

Meigle limped to 106 all out, with Peter J Drummond grinding out an impressive 60 not out to up his season average to 205. Most Meigle batsmen will be frustrated with how they got out, though Alan Neave was the victim of another questionable umpiring decision and Matthew Farmer fell foul of a terrific delivery that moved in a foot off the pitch.

Meigle head to Autoecosse Forthill on Saturday with Callum Leese still unavailable and Iain Stewart missing as he is resting his injured hand.

Veteran run machine Tom Duff is back in the top order to add some steel to the batting.

The second XI travel to Aberdeenshire CC to play the Mannofield Development XI in S&PCU Division 2 North.