The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Shire beat rain for a promising start
A berdeenshire launched their NE Championship campaign in style, racing to a 10-wicket victory over Kinloch at Mannofield.
They were one of the few clubs in Scotland to beat the rain which swept through the area in mid-afternoon.
Shire captain Kenny Reid used his considerable experience of local weather, reasoning that if he could win the toss, he might just force a result against the Fife team.
He said: “I got my wish and thanks to some inspired bowling from our new overseas player Dian Forrester, who took five for 17 in his debut match, we then bowled them out for 102 in 29.3 overs.
“We pulled out all the stops as the rain closed in to pass their total for the loss of no wickets in the 10th over.
“It’s a great start to our season. It gives us a launching pad from which we can take off.”
The Shire captain proved not only to be a strong tactician, but also the destroyer of the Kinloch attack, clubbing his way to an unbeaten 65 from 32 balls in the company of fellow opener Aayush Dasmahapra, who scored 26 from 25 balls.
Elsewhere it was frustration all round, particularly in the Eastern Premier at People’s Park, where Stoneywood-Dyce were put in to bat by Forfarshire who managed to bowl the home side out for 167 – this despite a good opening partnership of 33 from Jan Stander and George Ninan.
The Angus side’s reply was brutal, with opener Craig Wallace racing to a spectacular half century, although he was dropped twice.
A defeat seemed imminent for the home side but, with Forfarshire on the brink of victory, the umpires deemed the wet conditions were too dangerous to continue, much to the annoyance of the visitors.
Stoneywood-Dyce captain Jamie King said: “We had some good partnerships including the opening one and another involving Ewan Davidson and Andrew McLaren, but failure to take our catches cost us the opportunity of forcing a result.
“But our confidence is still intact.”
Back in the NE Championship, Gordonians looked to be on their way to forcing a result after posting 215 for seven from their allocation of 45 overs against Huntly at Countesswells, only for the weather to intervene, denying Jack Mitchell’s side the chance to chase for victory.
In the North East Cricket Grades, the feat of the day was at the Links where Bon Accord amassed an impressive total of 384 for the loss of eight wickets, of which Akhlaq Bashir scored an aggressive 143. The home side then bowled out Cults for 87.
The eagerly awaited clash of champions Aberdeen Grammar and Knight Riders was abandoned after the home side scored 151 for eight. Rain ended play when the visitors were 47 for three.
Gordonians were 25-run winners against 2nd Knight Riders and in the only other game in which there was a result in Grade 1, Master Blasters Aberdeen bowled out Mannofield for 163 when chasing 183.
In Grade 2, Fraserburgh had a five-wicket win at home to Siyapa, while Portcullis were six winners at Banchory.
In Grade 3, despite scoring 358 for 4, Gordonians had to settle for a no result against 2nd Methlick on a day when the rain had a big say in outcomes.