Cults - 11th August 2007 - It's a Rollover !!

Stonehaven 1st XI 54 all out, Cults 55 for 5.

Stonehaven 1st XI travelled to Allan Park to face league leaders Cults on Saturday.
With Cults unbeaten in the league this season it was always going to be an uphill task; however nothing could have prepared Thistle for the outright capitulation that followed.

With Andrew Hinchcliffe deputizing as skipper while Brother Clive enjoyed sunny Prague the line-up was juggled with Barry Milne finding himself opening alongside Ali Milroy. After a cautious start, both batsmen seemed to have got the measure of the bowling until Ali was bowled by Asif on 12. Barry followed four overs later for 15, with the score on 30 for 2.

Drew Hinchcliffe joined Denis Garden at the wicket looking to build on this start. Drew departed 2 balls later for nought, Garden followed, 9 balls later without adding to the score and Jonno Van Der Ruit, the inform man, trudged back to the pavilion 7 balls later only to be joined by Andrew Long after another 4 balls. The score was now 31 for 6 with only 14 overs played.

Hopes now rested on Alex Keith as Brian Campbell joined him in the middle. Three overs later, Brian was caught behind for 2; all his predecessors having been bowled or LBW. At 45 for 7, Thistle were fast running out of batsmen. Matters were made worse when Keith, having been joined at the crease by Dave Long, was bowled for 8,

Together Chris Van Der Ruit and Long saw off the opening bowlers and started to make headway until Chris was bowled for 4 in the 29th over. When Alasdair Gardner went next over the rollover was complete. Dave Long was 4 not out. Masood finished with 4 for 20 and Asif 4 for 21.

With no total to defend and only 1 batting point, Thistle had to try to pick up as many wickets as possible. Helped by confident Cults who reversed their batting line-up, J. Van Der Ruit picked up 2 for 25 in his 5 overs and spinner Brian Campbell 2 for 12 in the 13 overs it took to reach tie on 54. Enter Ali Milroy who had P. Gill caught with his first ball bowled, He then followed that up with a wide.

Stonehaven will have to try to salvage what up to now has been a good season for them. With other results in their favour, this still leaves Thistle in fourth place in the Grade 1, and with three tough matches ahead, a chance to finish in their highest spot ever.

The match ball was sponsored by the Marine Hotel.

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