Stonehaven Thistle 1st XI v Ellon 1st XI  at Mineralwell Park– Grade 1 – 23/05/09

After the recent washout games Thistle were relieved to get their first league game in 3 weeks, the covers playing a major part in keeping the rain at bay on the previous days.
After the toss it was Thistle who fielded first on a cloudy Saturday afternoon, C.Hinchcliffe and A.Long opening the bowling. With the new ball being used to full effect by the openers, swinging and seaming around in the cloudy conditions, Ellon struggled to get going, scoring only 7 runs in the first 10 overs and with the pressure building Long got the breakthrough, S.White out lbw for 6. Thistle kept the momentum going when D.Garden came on to replace Hinchcliffe, Ellon struggling to 19 off 20 overs.
C. White and opener S.Davies then showed some fighting spirit and managed to push the score along to 60 off  25 until an amazing few over’s from B.Campbell and A. Keith saw Ellon slump to 69 for 5 off 27 over’s.  Ellon gamely played through to the 44th over before being all out for 124, S.Davies (42) and C.White (26) the top scores. A. Keith (3-30) and A. long (2-22) were the pick of the Thistle bowlers, but with each of the 6 bowlers claiming at least 1 wicket, it was a strong performance all round for Thistle.

With Thistle knowing what they had to do to win, the opening batsmen set out after lunch and after A. Keith took a delivery in the midriff, decided that the best way to defend against this quick bowling was to go on the attack and openers Keith and Milroy certainly did, smashing 43 off the first 10 over’s which, when compared to Ellon's 7 off 10 over’s, was a comfortable start.
A. Keith dominated the bowlers until getting caught out on 45 which brought A. Kemp to the crease to join opener A. Milroy. The pair proceeded to tick things along nicely until a floury wickets saw Thistle slump to 81 for 4 off 23 over’s.
With Thistle still looking favourites, the cricketing gods intervened and Thistle struggled to get runs but lost wickets in the process, the score on 101 for 7 off 37 over’s. With things getting tense Thistle edged along to 120 for 9 off 42 over’s, D. Garden Snr being the rock for Stonehaven until he was out lbw for 26. Things were now on a knife edge at the Mineralwell park with the game there for the taking for both sides, a mistake either way could end the game. Thankfully that mistake came from Ellon as Borslap sent a high delivery down the leg side resulting in a no bowl which Thistle captain C.Hinchliffe gratefully hit close to the boundary and securing the 3 runs Thistle needed for victory. As the sunshine broke through the clouds a jubilant Thistle left the field, relief clear on all the faces. It was an incredible ending to a very close game and with batsmen A. Keith (45) and D. Garden (26) the top batsmen. It was a good spirited game and both sides then went back for some well deserved drinks at Stonehaven Thistle’s main sponsor, The Station Hotel.
Thistle are now looking forward to more excitement as they face Banchory away next weekend.