Forgotten how to lose

Academy 63 all out
Stonehaven 64 for 3

Having seen his side bat the previous week and keeping one eye on the weather the Stonehaven 2nd XI skipper Dave Long Snr. decided to bowl when Stonehaven entertained Academy at Mineralwell on Saturday.

The opening bowlers didn’t disappoint and young Calum Findlay got his just reward when he bowled K. Rob in the 3rd over for 8. Nigel King opened his account in his second over with an lbw then bowled the other opener S.Sid one over later.

Academy were shell shocked and wickets continued to fall Findlay picked up Naeem lbw for nought to finish on 2 for 9 off 6 overs whilst King at the other end was filling his boots, eventually finishing with 5 for 16 off 8 overs.

At 34 for 6 after 12 overs Academy were in trouble; the drizzle that had started looked their best hope. After a short spell from Barry Milne, 0 for 14 and a sharp run out  when Long cut off what Ashin thought was a certain run, Steve Crozier mopped up the tail with  2 for 2 in 7 balls; Academy 63 all out.

With the light rain looking set the teams put tea on hold and took to the field for Thistle’s innings. Openers S. Crozier and Bruce Findlay progressed well taking the score to 28 before Bruce mistimed a shot and holed out at mid-wicket for 15.  James Crozier departed LBW for 5 and the rain began in earnest.

Steve Crozier was then bowled and the Captain joined Milne at the crease with the score on 46. To Academy’s credit they stayed out though they were almost certainly going to lose. The batsmen splashed their way through the final runs reaching the target in the 23rd over; Milne 9 not out, Long 5 not out.

Recently promoted to Grade 3, Thistle find themselves top of the league and if they win next weeks fixture against Dunecht will have gone one year without defeat making them the team that has forgotten how to lose. The match was sponsored by The Station Hotel.