Match report for 1st XI Stonehaven Thistle Cricket Team vs Kintore CC at Mineralwell Park on Saturday 04th August 2007.

Stonehaven were at home against 3rd placed side Kintore and looking to build on last weeks win. Winning the toss and electing to field Stonehaven were encouraged with the amount of swing from opening bowlers J Van de Ruit and A Long.  It didn’t take long until the first breakthrough Auld bowled, beaten for pace by Van de Ruit and followed up the next ball by taking the wicket of Prosser caught and bowled to leave Kintore on 11 for 2.  The dangerous Basillie was to follow suit to J van de Ruit (3 wickets for 35 runs) in his next over again beaten for pace and swing.  Stonehaven truly thought that the rout was on when the accurate A Long (2 for 34), took two wickets in 3 overs with Kintore stuck on 26 for 5. A bowling change did not alter Stonehaven’s performance as A Hinchcliffe (1 for 39) caught and bowled Middleton with the score 26 for 6 after 17 overs.  This brought to the crease Adams and opener Anderson was still holding on desperate to salvage something for Kintore.  Both batsmen played the waiting game not trying anything too adventurous and punishing the bad balls.  After 22 overs the pitch had settled down and with both batsmen set they could start to push the score along and after 46 overs with some wayward bowling and fine batting Kintore finished on 201 for 7.  Opener Anderson succumbing to the penultimate ball of the innings LBW to Keith for 81(with a partnership of 175) and the Australian, Adam finished 85 not out.

The Stonehaven innings did not start well as Alex Keith chased a wide ball and was heading back to the pavilion within the first over.  Knowing that a big target had been set captain Andrew Hinchcliffe tried to push the score on but fell to the slower ball for just 6 and Stonehaven found themselves in an uncomfortable position of 16 for 2.  In came Jonno Van de Ruit who was keen to punish poor bowling and with Ali Milroy steadied the Stonehaven ship and accelerated the score with some big sixes.  This brought a change of attack with Anderson bowling some spin for the first time in the match which proved to be highly effective.  The score on 93 for 2 proved to be the deciding point of the match with 3 quick wickets putting Stonehaven on the defensive.  First to go was Van de Ruit (49runs) then Milroy (23) and Barry Milne to leave Stonehaven 97 for 5.  It appeared to be a one man show with spinner Anderson (5 for 31) proving the best on Kintore’s bowlers.  With only the tail to finish off Stonehaven looked vulnerable to defeat but with the experienced Garden still in, escape was still possible.  As it proved to be Garden batted a restrained 22 overs for 25 runs with most of the tail hanging around the best they could but wickets kept falling until Dave long batting number 10 played out the final 14 overs with Garden to leave the match drawn and Stonehaven 151 for 9.

Stonehaven will feel disappointed about letting such a promising position slip away.  Stonehaven man of the match was Denis Garden for his fine wicket keeping and batting which saved Stonehaven the match.  The match was sponsored by The Station Hotel.  The annual cricket funday is to be held on the 26th of August in Mineralwell Park.

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