Stonehaven 2nds travelled to Duthie Park looking to make it three wins in a row for 2008. Portcullis would make a good game of it though testing the skills of both bowlers and Captain.

Sensing a strong batting line-up Stoney Skipper took the unusual step of batting first on winning the toss and hoped for 200 runs to defend. Thistle made a slow start with 14 runs in 9 overs and it looked as though the wish list would have to be revised. Opener Steve Crozier was out early on replaced by his son James who steadied the ship and together with “Sherpa” Findlay pushed the score to 56 in the 18th over when the former was out for 13. This brought Barry Milne to the crease who played himself in while Bruce Findlay took his score to 29 before being bowled.

Matthew Colvin was then run out in a sharp single attempt which signalled the return to cricket after a 2 year absence for David Long Jnr. Milne and Long then set about the bowlers with some text book shots and good running between the wickets enjoying a partnership of 65 when Long was bowled in the 39th over for 18 with the score on 144. Paul Hay then played a cameo innings of 11 as he joined in the attack with some quick running towards the end of the innings, run out misjudging a run.

The in-form Bryan Snelling, with freedom to play his traditional game, carted Portcullis for a further 15 runs and when “Baz” Milne was eventually out for 55 in the 42nd over a score of 200 looked on the cards. Thistle declared in the 45th over on 197 for 9.

Portcullis were up against it from the start as Thistle with a strong bowling attack set after the former Customs and Excise team. Nigel king struck with his fourth ball, Percival LBW for 0. Partner Bryan Snelling bowled Abdul for 7 and King disturbed Armstrong’s stumps in the 9th over, Portcullis on 19.

So far so good but the Western Australian Dodds had other ideas and played a circumspect innings to rally the home side. Long Jnr and Milne failed to find a breakthrough and Skipper Long turned to veteran bowler Steve Crozier who didn’t disappoint with a wicket third ball up, Collinson gone for 22. Thistle’s problems weren’t over and even the return of Snelling couldn’t halt the Portcullis progress. At 119 for 4, the skipper elected to bowl himself and the batsmen struggled to get his “pot pourri” bowling away. With runs drying up at the other end, King then made a double breakthrough before Steve Crozier bowled the prize wicket of Dodds for 59.

Now there was no way back for Portcullis and Long Jnr. returned to mop up the tail in style finishing with 3 for 24 in 8 overs, Portcullis all out for 171. Snelling 1 for 36 off 10 overs was unlucky but King’s 4 for 34 off 12 overs was impressive.