Methlick 1sts vs Knight Riders 2nds
Methlick give heat in the cold.
Unfortunately for Methlick 2nds Lairds had remained in its swamp-like state and their game was called off early in the week. However it did mean that an opportunity for some of the younger players to gain first team exposure developed and it was certainly grasped as the mighty MCC travelled to Aberdeen on a very cold day to begin the season after last year’s promotion.
The outfield at Groat’s road was very lush and a high scoring battle was not to be expected. With the absence of talismanic skipper, Duffy, the side was led by Alasdair Smith. The toss was lost and Methlick were put into bat and the first disaster struck as Smith ran out Woodhouse who, despite his speed between the wickets, was left well short for 4.
Smith also went cheaply on 9 but then Acton and Veersema , both continuing on last year’s superb run of form, took the score onto 60 until Acton was bowled on 8. However Hordley, struggling at first with his timing, supported the Aussie past the 100 mark. Knight Riders were struggling to penetrate the batting as Veersema reached his 50. Hordley went for 28 and farmer Addison and Jamie Jones went cheaply at the death but MCC had reached a very respectable 164 for 6 from their 40 overs, helped to some extent by the home side’s 29 wides.
The left arm swing from 2nds captain Crutchfield, and the reliable pace from the ginger right-arm pace of Acton, curtailed the reply from Knight Riders openers, but it was the introduction of the reliable slow right arm of veteran Addison that made the first in-roads with a wicket in his first over.
The home side continued to struggle in the cold as Methlick took regular wickets as the score reached a meagre 47 for 5. However Chowdry, in at 6 and with a fantastic eye for the ball, started smashing the bowling around the park. MCC’s lead looked in peril as the score moved past 100 with no sign of wickets. The senior bowlers had bowled out and it was up to the youngster, Fraser Grant, to step up to the mark. How would he cope with the big - hitting Chowdry?
What followed was great management of the batting and Chowdry had to look on as he was starved of the strike. He reached his 50 but was stranded as Grant took two wickets for not many. The required run rate continued to grow as Jamie Jones stepped in removing Tharun with excellent pace being edged to Woodhouse behind the stumps, and then a plum LBW to finish the proceedings with Knight Riders 32 short.
Wickets were shared equally between the bowlers but it was the younger members, Crutchfield, Grant and David Low in the field that set up the victory.
By
Mark Woodhouse