THISTLE REMAIN UNDEFEATED – ELLON 128, STONEHAVEN THISTLE 130 FOR 6

Thistle travelled to Ellon for their 3rd game of the season.  Skipper Clive Hinchcliffe won the toss and chose to bowl first.

This week Clive decided to open the bowling himself and Chris Van Der Ruit as Thistle looked to dominate from the start.  Ellon trying to get off to a flyer as usual started well with 15 runs coming from the first 2 overs.  However, in only the 3rd over of the game, Clive picked up the wickets of 2 Ellon danger men, firstly clean bowling Borstlap and then 4 balls later, trapping Barrett LBW.

Chris bowled a good line and length and was unlucky not to pick up a wicket.  Clive clean bowled the other opener Whyte with the score on only 22.  Andrew Long replaced Chris and showed an improvement in his all round performance bowling 6 overs for only 8 runs, but failing to breakthrough as Ellon tried to consolidate.  Alex Keith replaced Chris who had swapped ends and he made the breakthrough in his 3rd over when Ali Milroy held onto a difficult catch in the covers.  Brian Campbell replaced Andrew and offered a variation to pace bowling with his spin.  Although going for 11 runs in his first over the skipper kept him on and Ellon’s 2nd top scoring Huisman was caught trying to play across the line and top edged one to the skipper for a relatively easy catch.  Brian picked up the next wicket clean bowling Middleton. 

Clive came back on and went for a few runs before bowling Ellon’s top scoring batsman Chris Watson (34) with the score on 108 for 7, Thistle were hoping to mop up the tail for under 130.  In his first game this year Jonathan Van Der Ruit picked up 2 wickets in his 5 overs as he bowled Scott and trapped Moodley LBW.

It was Andrew Hinchcliffe who picked up the last wicket off Parks when he bowled him with only his 3rd delivery.  Although C. Hinchcliffe picked up 4 wickets, B. Campbell and J. Van Der Ruit 2 a piece, all the bowlers can hold their heads up to a good all round performance.  Thistle fielders all supported well in a good team performance and going in at tea chasing 128, everyone knew a win was on the cards especially with a good batting line up.

Ellon opener Whyte went for 8 runs in his first over, as Alex Keith again showing his class, dispatched 2 balls to the boundary.  However with only 13 runs on the board Ali Milroy untypically nicked one to the keeper and was caught behind.  Denis Garden came to the crease and showed patience as he started a faultless innings.  Alex was run out for 11 as he started, stopped and started a 2nd run and was well short of the crease.  Enter Drew Hinchcliffe, looking for the bad ball he hit his first 6 with the 4th ball faced and then another next ball.  Whyte picked up his 1st wicket shortly after when Drew played defensively but the ball still rolled back into the stumps.  Thistle now 29 for 3 and in a bit of trouble.  Jonathan Van Der Ruit and Denis Garden played patiently and when the bowling change came Jonno freed his arms hitting four 6’s in Borstlap’s only over.  Jonno however could not build on this start was caught from the bowling off Wade but not before he top scored with 29.

Dave Long came to the crease to try to use up some bowling but failed to use up a single delivery as he was run out going for a third.  Thistle now 5 men down with only 67 on the board and Denis Garden the only recognised batsman left.  Clive Hinchcliffe came in to see the bowlers off and force a change.  Denis played some fine strokes and Clive rode his luck to take Thistle within 3 runs of victory as the pair put on 57 runs before Clive was bowled for a valuable 27 runs.  Symon Jacobsen came in to see Thistle through to the close as Garden finished undefeated for a match winning 27 not out. 

Good to see the middle order providing support and helping Thistle to a valuable victory.  Everyone in the side had some contribution throughout the game which is important when the team has a strong enough squad where a few players will have to fight for a place.

Thistle travel to Grammar FPs next week looking for a consecutive victory.  Match ball sponsor Power Washer Services.  Club Sponsor Station Hotel.

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