Huntly keep pace in Championship

Huntly maintained their 100% record in the North-East Championship with a one-wicket win over Forfarshire seconds.

It was their 16th consecutive win under captain Jack Mitchell who, although happy enough with keeping up the pressure on joint leaders Arbroath United, was less pleased with the margin of the win.

He said: “We made hard work of bowling Forfarshire for 161 when we should have dismissed them for around 110.

“Even when we batted it should never have gone to our last wicket, but it’s a win.

“We now have tough games to come at home to Perth and then away to Arbroath. These games will define our season.’’

Mitchell played his part, taking three for 18, while teenager Andrew Petrie weighed in with three for 22 and a superb display of ground fielding in the deep. Opener Jay-Lee Oliver led the home reply with 72, including six fours and two sixes. Thereafter, Huntly limped over the winning line in the 38th over but with only one wicket in hand.

The biggest disappointment came in Edinburgh where Stoneywood-Dyce ended the afternoon at the bottom of the Eastern Premier after being soundly beaten by fellow strugglers Watsonians.

After winning the toss the home side reached 313 for the loss of seven wickets which, given the fragile batting of the Aberdeen side, was always going to be a challenge.

Opener Oli Hairs set the tone with a bristling knock of 53 from 29 balls but it was Liam Naylor who did the most damage with a classy innings of 102, including 11 fours.

Nathan Elliott was the most effective of the visiting bowling attack, taking two wickets including the wicket of Naylor.

Facing such a big total, the visitors were always chasing the game and although seven batsmen reached double figures, only Hayden Laing (41) and Sai Sawan Kumar (30) looked like lasting the course as they fell 117 runs short on 196.

Gordonians owed much to opener Abrar Ahmed for their first win of the season away to Perth Doocot.

The talented all-rounder took four wickets for 12, helping bowl the home side out for 128 and hitting a magnificent 53 in his side’s four-wicket win.

“After our poor start to the season, we have now launched our campaign in style,” said Mayank Bandari, the Gordonians captain.

At Freuchie, Aberdeenshire looked to have set a winning total of 235 but despite a fine knock of 80 from opener Kenny Reid and a supportive 47 from Joshua Goodwin, they failed to hold off the home side who cruised to victory in the 42nd over.

Shire also exited the Scottish Cup in the second round at the hands of Grange.

Chasing a total of 256, they fell to 189 all out despite the best efforts of Josh Goodwin who produced a superb 115 from 86 balls.

In the Aberdeenshire Grades, Master Blasters Aberdeen kept their place at the head of Grade 1, beating Grampian by 10 wickets after bowling them out for 58.

The performance of the day was from Bon Accord openers Fazal Awan and Khawar Ahmed, who put on 218 for the first wicket in their total of 341, helping them beat Crescent by 221 runs.

Awan went on to score 127, with seven fours and a remarkable 12 sixes.

CAPTAIN’S ROLE: Jack Mitchell chipped in with three wickets in Huntly’s win. Picture by Kath Flannery.