Gordonians 2nds 84 all out
Stonehaven 2nds 90 for 4

Stonehaven 2nds played their Gordonian counterparts on home turf in the quarter final of The Johnston Cup on Saturday, in a game that they was never out of their control.

Winning the toss Stonehaven put in the visitors on a gloriously hard track and in the 5th over David Long Jnr. opened his account by bowling N.Smith for 4, then accounting for Raj with a neat caught and bowled. He would finish with 2 for 10 off 6 overs.

At 27 for 2, Gordonian wickets then fell at regular intervals though fellow opener calum Findlay was unlucky not to join in the spoils; his replacement Daniel Colvin taking 2 for 19 in his 6 overs.

However once Bryan Snelling came on to bowl there was no way back for the Aberdeen Club as he removed the important wicket of P. Grubb for 20 and thereafter filled his boots with his second “Michelle” of the season, 5 for 14. Gordo’s rocked to finish on 84 all out.

In reply Stonehaven started cautiously against the hostile attack of S. Rowell as  the openers were soon ducking and swaying out of the path of Rowell’s bouncers. Eventually Bruce Findlay succumbed for 6, but skipper Dave Long weathered the storm long enough to see off Rowell and to have a misunderstanding with Dom Cruickshanks who looked to be in fine form until run out for 10. Matthew Colvin played some superb shots for his 8 until he came up against Rowell who returned to remove the youngster with his 2nd ball.

When Long was eventually bowled for 20 with the score on 64 for 3, Stonehaven played their Ace card and Symon “Schumi” Jacobsen came to the wicket. In a superb display of attacking cricket Symon then mopped up the remainder of the total with an innings that included a monster 6 over long on. Jacobsen finished off the innings with another 6, having reached 29 not out in just 17 balls.

The match ball was sponsored by Foster Plant Services. Next week Thistle host the in-form Mannofield in what may prove to be a tougher league proposition than of late.