THISTLE START SEASON IN THE BEST WAY POSSIBLE

The new cricket season started last Saturday and Stonehaven first team travelled to Inverurie.

New skipper Clive Hinchcliffe lost the toss but Inverurie decided to bat anyway.  Thistle deciding to let youth open the bowling rather than last year’s combination of Clive Hinchcliffe and Andy Wilson, the former carrying a healing injury and latter concentrating on spin.

Andrew Long started the attack with the instruction to find line and length and build up the pace.  A. Long, however found this task too difficult as the lack of match practice showed.  He was quickly replaced and vice Captain Andrew Hinchcliffe (Drew) came on to bowl.  Chris Van Der Ruit (VDR), who opened the bowling from the other end, was showing much more promise with a good line and length and good pace.

Runs were too easy to find for the Inverurie batsmen with a combination of dropped catches and wayward bowling.  Clive replaced  VDR with the score on 63 off just 11 overs.  It was, however, the introduction of Andy Wilson and his spin that brought Thistle their first wicket as Inverurie opening batsman Dunderdale hit the ball to Dave Long who held on. Wilson quickly picked up his second wicket 9 balls later when Norval decided to throw the bat after Andy had beaten him 5 or 6 times with his spin, it was Drew Hinchcliffe, taking a comfortable catch 10 yards in from the boundary.

Alec Keith replaced Clive and also bowled a good line, the Inverurie batsmen still not ready to accelerate despite being 150 for 2 off just 30 overs, Wilson had Martin beaten but again the chance of a catch went down as firstly Symon Jacobsen could not hold on, and then Denis Garden tried in vain for the rebound.  Martin deciding the short boundary off Wilson was the one to go for and 3 sixes went out the park before A Keith removed the middle stump.  A Long came back for a much better spell of quick bowling and showed more control.  Clive replaced A Keith and first ball of the over Coutts deciding the short boundary was too tempting.  Ali Milroy, new to Stonehaven, took the catch and sent Coutts back to the pavilion.

Thistle were waiting for Inverurie to put some quick runs on the board and declare, but it never happened, despite Thistle’s other spinner Brian Campbell, trying to tempt the batsman.  It was the last ball of the 46th over (maximum 1st team can bat for) that removed Inverurie opener G Hadden for 79 as Clive bowled the ball and Hadden nicked it to Jacobsen behind the stumps.  With the score of 238-5 tea was taken, Thistle considering chasing what is a good score.

Thistle knows only too well what Alec Keith is capable of, having played against him for a number of years.  (Moved this year from St Ronald).  His opening partner however, Ali Milroy, recently moved to Stonehaven and will not be used to playing on the softer wickets, all through indoor and outdoor training though Ali has looked a shot player of top quality and with these 2 players opening this year, Thistle were hoping for a good start to the run chase.  Thistle needing 239 runs from the 44 overs left (90 over game) a solid start saw 40 runs coming from the first 10 overs with some hard hitting.  Good running and fine placement.

Inverurie skipper decided on a bowling change next over as both Alec and Ali start to look more at ease, the next 10 overs bringing 69 runs as both batsmen but especially Alec start hitting out.

The score had raced to 157 off 27 overs when Ali was given out LBW after a fine knock of 48.  Impressive to see how Ali was able to score freely towards the end of his innings, scoring off almost every ball faced, and ran very well with Alec particularly as they had not batted together before.

Thistle still needing around 80 runs to win and Drew Hinchcliffe was batting with Alec Keith, 2 of the grades hardest hitting batsmen in the same team.  If these 2 bat together for 10-15 overs and have the freedom they need to play shots Thistle can take the game away from anyone.

Hinchcliffe, deciding to take his time and get used to the track, decided not to hit his first 6 till the 7th ball.  Alec brought up his hundred with a 6 and finally went for a brilliant 115 off only 95 balls.  Denis Garden strode to the crease and right from the start looked in great form dealing mainly in boundaries (1 single, 4 fours, 1 six).  Thistle raced past the finishing line with almost 8 overs spare.

A fantastic batting display, but Thistle cannot get complacent.  Fielding and bowling will have to be better for next week, when they take on Banchory at mineralwell.

This week’s match sponsor is Hair Care, Barclay Street, Stonehaven.  Team Sponsor, Station Hotel, Arduthie Road, Stonehaven.

Anyone interested in playing cricket should contact D. Long on 07704 834255 or turn up to practice at Mineralwell, Thursdays at 6.30pm weather permitting.

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