Meigle close in on the No.2 spot after victory
Meigle notched another win in the S&PCU North East Championship to close the gap on second place with a resounding victory at the international ground at Mannofield.
Captain Matty Farmer stroked his way to 101 – a knock which included 12 fours and half a dozen sixes – in 99 minutes.
He later claimed four wickets and was run close for man of the match by Peter J Drummond, captain of the 2001 championship winning side, who took four catches, a stumping and stroked 52 runs.
Meigle won the toss on an excellent batting surface and it took until after drinks for the first wicket to fall when Farmer was run out with the score on 146.
Drummond and the in-form Neil Wimberley built a fine partnership of 49 before Drummond was caught at deep extra cover for 52 – which included five fours.
Wimberley kept up the scoring rate with 66 – which in part comprised five fours and a single six – Alan Neave made his mark with 31 as Meigle ended on an imposing 282 for five after 45 overs.
At one stage the 321, that was amassed by a Retief Kriel and Bill Scott inspired first XI in 2001 against SMRH in the SCU Trophy, seemed on the cards but 282 gave confidence to the Black and Gold players and travelling support at the tea interval.
Meigle opened up with real discipline bowling a good back of a length delivery consistently as openers Neave and Iain Stewart dismissed home captain, ex-Scottish Uni all-rounder Will Anderson and the classy ex-Surrey Championship batsman James Musgrave for eight and three respectively.
Aussie star man Farmer came into the attack to claim the first of his four scalps as Mannofield slumped from 26 for two to 26 for four in a single Farmer over.
The talented Grant Jamieson is always a threat with his clinical ball striking and shot selection and he punished the occasional poor delivery from the change bowlers as he accumulated 39.
A fine eight wicket partnership saw the hosts move from 126 to 180.
Gloveman Drummond took his four catches behind the stumps stood back before a fourth stumping of the campaign gave him a ‘five for’ to savour.
Russell smashed 67 for the hosts but they ran out of steam on 210.
Murray Scott again bowled a handy spell and there was a memorable moment for young Josh Edington, whose solid over saw a strong appeal for LBW turned down with the Granite city cracks nine wickets in arrears.
Meigle will be minus key man Jamie Morrison but welcome back Strathallan school’s Lisle Halkett as they host Kinloch this Saturday at Victory Park with a noon start for what is the final scheduled first XI home game.
The match is sponsored by Dundee Plant Ltd.