Sat 12 August 2006 - Thistle Sting Kintore for 2nd time this season

Stonehaven Thistle 1st 's entertained last season's Grade 1 champs Kintore at Mineralwell on a very grassy, lumpy pitch.
Suffering from a breakdown of all three club mowers and the heavy roller, the batting strip preparation looked remarkably good. Seasoned campaigners however could tell the ball would lift, shoot and move sharply off the seam.
The toss was cruicial. Skipper Donald Grewar lost and was immediately invited to bat.
Dennis Garden and Dominic Cruickshanks opened against short and pacy bowling. With the short ball flying around head height and seaming wickedly, the opening pair expected some painful body blows if they were to survive.
Only 17 runs were on the board when a contentious run out saw Cruickshanks (5) heading back to the pavillion. The umpire at square leg had the best view on the park and with the umpires decision being final there was no questioning the decision.
Andrew Hinchcliffe although struggling with his form, kept a level head (which was firmly placed inside the safety zone of helmet and face guard.)
Runs came quickly although both batsmen struggled to dominate the bowling. Several fast, short deliveries went clean through, missing bat, body and stumps.
Garden took a sharply lifting ball right into his ribs. Although “No pain” is the motto of all batsmen, the wince and short intake of breath said otherwise.
Colin Laird then put another one in the same spot with extra zip. Two “badges” for Garden meant bruising for a few days to come.
The next ball was a classic sucker punch, an inswinging yorker which splayed the stumps. Garden (10) acknowledged the wise head on young shoulders and departed back to the pavillion.
Skipper Grewar joined Hinchcliffe at the crease and the determined pair set about the short bowling. Taking guard almost a foot outside the crease Hinchcliffe showed how to play against difficult bowling.
Several clean strokes saw Hinchcliffe settling into the groove, arguably for the first time this season !. Some careful shot selection moved the score on rapidly with 62 coming from the first 20 overs.
Grewar played an excellent supporting role soaking up the pressure from the increasingly difficult R. Balsillie.
Anderson replaced Laird in an attempt to buy Hinchcliffe's wicket, and after a huge six, where the ball landed in the river, Hinchcliffe (44) eventually succumbed, holing out on the boundary.
With 77 runs from 26 overs for 3 wickets the platform had been set for Thistle's middle order to push the score on to a defendable total.
Mathew Jenkins(9) and Barry Milne(2) couldnt get going, leaving the tail exposed.
However, Brian Campbell(15) showed some promise taking on the bowlers and scoring.
The target of 150 of more looked achievable until Dave Long (0) and Bryan Snelling (5) were both caught, trying to hit out.
Clive Hinchcliffe and the young Duncan Campbell needed to take as may runs as possible. Both players looked very determined to add runs wherever possible, however with only 125 from 45 overs Thistle needed a big score before the forced declaration at the 46 th over.
A trukly remarkable last over saw 10 runs being added, coming from 5 wides, 4 from no balls and a single run.
As they took the field Thistle's mood was buoyant, knowing they had the firepower and confidence to take the game.
Clive Hinchcliffe started the rout forcing errors from both Laird(0) and Stalker(0).
Both played the lifting delivery straight into the hands of Andrew Hinchcliffe, fielding at the dangerous Silly Mid-off. Two wickets in the first over had the heart ripped out of Kintore's top order.
Clive Hinchcliffe was bowling his best of the season, ably supported by tight bowling from Grewar.
Kintore stumbled to 18 from 7 overs before Clive Hinchcliffe struck again in the 8 th .
Opening bat Anderson(13) didnt get away with his 3 previous lives with a catch behind snatched out the air by Garden.
Thistle's ecstatic celebrations were duly rewarded as confidence grew. Grewar pitched one up which forced the dangerous Grayson into a late cut as Kintore's batsmen had an air of desparation about them.
Stepping back too far, the unusual sight of the batsman crashing his own stumps out of the ground saw Grayson (0) out “hit wicket”
Clive Hinchcliffe continued bowling well claiming an important wicket, that of Middleton(19) the only batsmen showing any sign of resiliance.
Kintore were in trouble with 31 runs from 10 overs for 5 wickets. The game was there for Thistle to take however Kintore were not done quite yet.
Sattaya(0) didnt add to the score, trying to cut Hinchcliffe over point. An excellent catch from Jenkins boosted the home side yet again.
Clive Hinchcliffe's five wickets were cause enough for celebration, so when another excellent delivery had Steve Balsillie(8) caught by Dominic Cruickshanks at point, Hinchcliffe's sixth wicket drew acknowledgement from both teams.
Andrew Hinchcliffe replaced Grewar and immediately had the ball lifting and moving sharply off the seam. Singer(11) was clean bowled whilst leaving one outside the offstump which cut back sharply.
Bryan Snelling replaced Clive Hinchcliffe, which triggered some positive batting from the few remaining visitors.
Another lifting delivery from Andrew Hinchcliffe moved the ball high onto the bat as Resson(7) was caught by Barry Milne at mid on. At 70 for 9 from 22 overs the game looked sealed.
R Walker and R Balsillie came together. Thistle needed one wicket to claim the deserved win, however this pair decided to take their chances and swing the bat.
Andrew Hinchcliffe ended his spell with 2 wickets for 16 runs off 8 overs.
Clive Hinchcliffe ended his spell with 6 wickets for 36 runs from 12 overs.
Brian Campbell came on to seduce the batsmen into a catch, however incredibly, three valuable chances were not taken and the Kintore pair accelerated the score. 10 overs later and still going strong, the score edged past 100. Tensions were mounting in both camps as chances were spilled and more runs were added.
Balsillie played a supporting role as Walker hit boundary after boundary.
The hypnotising effect of Campbell's spin seemed to have lost its effect as 19 more runs came from the next four overs. Snelling hit form and bowled tightly.
Campbell's next over saw a big six straight over his head which signalled Kintore's bid to snatch victory.
Walker was again on strike as every Thistle player knew the importance this win would have on the relegation battle being simultaneously played out.
Walker's confidence was sky high as Campbell flighted a ball with perfection. The flight of the spinning leather sphere fooled Walker into stepping back for the cut stroke. As the bat swung through its arc the ball deviated from the grassy surface enough to cause the bat to swing helplessly past.
The sound of leather on willow is a sweet sweet sound, but the sound of ball on stump was sheer delight to the home team.
Stung for the second time in the same season the Kintore batsmen found it hard to believe their valiant effort was at an end.
Bryan Snelling ended with 0 wickets for 31 runs from 7 overs, whilst Brian Campbell ended with 1 for 16 runs from 4 overs. Kintore finished on 125 for 10 wickets, Balisillie(19NO) Walker(33).
Thistle's emphatic victory was an enormous win in the relegation battle .
Man of the Match was Clive Hinchcliffe for his superb bowling. Match sponsor was The Station Hotel.

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