Queens Cross 47 all out, Stonehaven 48 for 2.

Stonehaven 2nd XI faced Queens Cross at Mineralwell on Saturday; the only team to have beaten them this year. In no mood for a repeat performance the Thistle attack was clinical and determined on a good track, resulting in The Cross suffering their heaviest defeat of the year.

On winning the toss Skipper David Long put the Cross into bat. Ready to put the record straight and conscious that Thistle “must not lose” the opening bowlers kept it tight in the early overs. The dangerous Findlay was bowled for 1 in the fifth over by Nigel King. At the other end “Forest” Alasdair Gardiner gained his reward for some fine bowling with a sharp caught and bowled to dismiss Micallic for 0.

In the 11th over with the score on 11 Queens Cross lost their other opener, again to Nigel King and with a change of bowling Dave Long Jnr.struck immediately in his first over when J. Goodenough was not good enough to keep the ball off his stumps.

Four overs later, it was “buy one, get one free” as first Long dispensed with Nijay Rim bowled for 4, then Bruce Findlay returned the ball from square leg and keeper Symon Jacobsen whipped the bails off; C. Lovie run out without facing a ball. Queens Cross were now in deep trouble at 20 for 5.

Lumsden tried to rally The Cross but Jaya was bowled by Long for 13. Bryan Snelling despite bowling with good pace was having a frustrating time at the other end but accounted for Johnson LBW for no score. Dom Cruickshanks bowled M. Speagall for nought and when Lumsden finally fell for 12 to Snelling, the game was up for Queens Cross, all out for 47 in the 28th over.

N. King 4 for 2, A. Gardiner 13 for 1, D. Long 19 for 3, B. Snelling 8 for 2 and D. Cruickshanks 1 for 1.

A dejected Cross took to the field and openers Bruce Findlay and Dom Cruickshanks played sensibly and never let the bowlers get on top. Finally in the 13th over with the score on 46 Findlay fell for 13. After a wide delivery the scores were level but new batsman James Crosier gave an easy catch, leaving Symon Jacobsen to stride out to the crease, refusing to put on his pads for “one ball”. Sure enough, a pull shot to leg, brought 2 runs and a fine victory for Stonehaven. Cruickshanks was not out with 21. Match ball was sponsoed by Deeside Timberframes.

Portcullis, with games in hand, are now the main threat to title hopes but Thistle know the best way to defend their lead is to keep winning with only three league games left.
They travel to Huntly next week.