SBanchory Cricket Club                       151 All out
Stone haven Thistle cricket club         120 for 8                    

Last weekend Stonehaven Thistle 1st Elevens hosted Banchory Cricket Club in what we consider to be a local derby. Thistle did something unusual for this game; they were able to field the same 11 players as the previous week.

Stonehaven won the toss and chose to field first, Andrew Long and Chris Van der Ruit opened the bowling with the former bowling a much better opening spell than last week. It was not until the 11th over that Chris managed to break though the defences of the Banchory opener and skipper Tim Donald and bowled him. Spin was quickly introduced and Andy Wilson replaced A Long, it was however Chris that struck again in his next over when he removed the other opener by again breaking the wickets. Wilson was not to be outdone and W Ali was caught just in from the boundary by A Hinchcliffe in a replica of last week’s dismissal. Banchory losing 3 wickets in 4 overs for 7 runs., the middle order of Howard and Musad however rode their luck and formed a good partnership despite the skipper ringing the changes bring himself, Alex Keith and then brother Andrew (Drew).  It was Drew who made the breakthrough when Masud hit the ball in the air to mid off and a diving Chris VD Ruit made an excellent diving catch.
Andrew long was brought back into the attack & removed the dangerous Potter, Brian Campbell replaced Drew and after finding his length picked up the wicket of Howard caught by  Clive at mid on. Banchory offer little other resistance and the combination of Clive and Brian proved too much for the batsman as they were rolled out for 151 runs

Thistle felt confident coming out from tea and following last weeks batting performance 152 looked like a comfortable target.
Alex Keith and Ali Milroy opened the batting again and once more both impressed with some fine stroke play and running. After 10 overs 40 runs on the board and 0 wickets down exactly the same start as the previous week, thistle were cruising and the accelerator was ready to be pressed. Banchory skipper Tim Donald deciding to replace Millar and Hassain with Masud and Wilkinson. With the score on 71 it was Masud who picked up Banchory’s first wicked of Milroy for a fine knock of 20. 
It was however Wilkinson that did the damage, removing 2 of Thistle’s best batsman in a short space of time. Firstly Alex Keith with a thin glove to the keeper for a another useful 47 runs( Alex showed the proper spirit of the game and did not wait for the umpire to give him out, something his team mates will do as Thistle like to play hard but play fair)  Secondly the wicket of Drew Hinchcliffe trapped LBW. With the score on 80 for 3 Thistle still had plenty to come and the game still looked secure.
It was the next dozen or so overs that cause the problems for thistle as runs became hard to find & Jacobson failed to trouble the scorers
Brian Campbell & Denis Garden struggling to get the ball away & overs running down. The reintroduction of Millar too much for Campbell as first ball of the new spell Brian gave catching practice. The score had limped to 100 off 36 overs and Chris van der Ruit was sent in for some quick runs as Thistle still wanted to win the game. When he was caught Clive went in for a captain’s knock but he too failed to get the run rate increased, when Hassain picked up the wicket of Garden for a patient 12, the game would no longer be won by Thistle. Dave Long also failed to trouble the scorers as Hassain bowled Yorker after Yorker, finally getting the LBW decision.

Andy Wilson joined the skipper and the 2 batsmen saw out the end of the innings.  Thistle settling for the draw.  For many of the Thistle this was the first time this year they have batted on grass, something to rectify at training on Thursday night.

 Match sponsor Grampian Credit . Club sponsor Station Hotel

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