Stonehaven Thistle 1st XI were away to Banchory hoping to get back to winning ways after last weeks defeat.Thistle won the toss and chose to bowl, putting Banchory into bat in what turned out to be very changeable weather.

Chris Van De Ruit opened proceedings with the skipper at the other end and started well getting Gourlay out cheaply and kept the runs down until the first rain of the day struck and covers where hastily rolled onto the wicket. This was to continue throughout the Banchory innings and it wasn’t till after the second spell of rain that thistle got the second wicket with the score on 60 off 15 overs.
Ali and Hajjan made a good 2rd wicket partnership of 60 before putting the pressure on Thistle until Ali was out for 57 giving Thistle the breakthrough that was needed.
From there on more wickets and rain showers fell until Millar and the tail enders pushing the total onto a final score of 187 for 9 off 46 overs.
Alex Keith was the best of the bowlers finishing with 4 wickets for 38 off 11 overs, C. Van De Ruit taking 2 for 35 off 12 overs

After a “reduced fat” tea Thistle faced a big task on a wet outfield and changeable track as no more rain fell for the day, having to score 188 to win. Andrew Kemp and A.Keith were to open for Thistle but disaster struck when Kemp was out for a Duck in the first over.
Denis Garden was in next facing the pressure but did well, with a good partnership with Keith pushing the score onto 40 before Keith was out for 34.
Andrew Hinchcliffe was next in and scored rapidly before Garden fell for 15, Hinchcliffe following soon after for 27 with the score on 85.
Clive Hinchcliffe and Andrew Wilson steadied the fall of wickets and scored well before Wilson was out with the score on 126 off 35.
The win seemed out of distance when C. Hinchcliffe was caught on 17 leaving the tail end to hold for the draw, which was almost loss when David Garden was dropped off the last ball.
Top scorers were A.Keith getting 34, A.Hinchcliffe 27, A.Wilson 25 and C. Hinchcliffe 17 and a solid 15 from D.Garden.

Thistle now face a visit from Ellon this Saturday as they look to get back to winning ways again.
The match ball was sponsored by the Station Hotel.