2XI vs Methlick vs Stonehaven Thistle
Methlick 2nds hosted Stonhaven at Lairds, looking resplendent in the late spring sunshine, after a difficult period, well done to everyone who helped prepare the ground over that time. Winning the toss, Methlick opted to field, skipper Lewis Crutchfield chose to open with John Moore and himself. Both bowled tidy opening spells, Lewis making an important breakthrough in his 2nd over, caught at long on by Fraser Grant, after he had dropped a chance the previous ball, a cheap error, Macauley Dicks gone cheap is always good. Two overs later Lewis had Sura caught at mid-on by Ross Moir for only 5, the score was only 21 off 8. Gale and Nagesh then built a solid partnership before Fraser Grant trapped Nagesn LBW for 9 in his 3rd over, having replaced Moore at the river end. Om fell next to Grant in a great spell of bowling, caught behind by Deni. Dan Reeve was given a few overs at the scorehut end, but a wayward spell was ended for the veteran Bryan Carr to tighten that end up. Fraser was in a great rhythm now taking 3 wickets for 8 runs in his last 3 overs, a fantastic spell which helped break tye back of the Stonehaven innings, the ever reliable Bonds was trapped LBW just as was starting to open up.
Moore returned and bowling a tight line, as ever, broke through the defence of the opener Gale, just as he was approaching 50, in a well constructed innings, out for 44. Carr now finished the innings off with 3 quick wickets off only 9 balls, Deni taking a good catch behind the stumps, Hussain and Sanderson both lost their middle stump for 1 and 0 respectively. The Stonehaven innings closed on 142, which included 34 wides in a top score of 48 extras, a challenging total for the run shy 2nds to overcome.
After the obligatory best tea in the grades, Ross Moir and Rob Fryer strode to the square to begin the Methlick response. Ross fell in the 4th over, as Anderson breached his defence with a straight ball, it did keep low. Crutchfield was next in and set out to frustrate the Stonehaven attack along with Fryer in a partnership of 40 in which a lot of runs came in wides and byes. Lewis fell on 11 caught at square leg as he looked to increase the run rate, the score was on 52 off 16 overs, a great platform for the middle order to make a sustained attack on the Stonehaven total. Daniel Reeve joined Fryer and after a brief look at the bowling, decided the time was right, so attacked with controlled hitting to various boundaries. Rob was bowled Gale for a handy 16 runs, in the 21st over in a wicket maiden, to pull the Methlick surge back a bit. Dod Duncan was next in and as always was busy at the crease in making 11 before being caught behind off Macaulay Dicks, Reeve had been caught at long on for 43 crucial runs in the previous over, an innings containing 7 boundaries, a game transforming innings. Methlick were now on 113 for 4 off 27 overs and well placed to push for the win. Fraser Grant couldn't follow up from his bowling form and was bowled for 2 runs by MD. Methlick now required 23 runs off 10 over with Bryan Carr and Deni Sarafimoski at the crease.
Bryan was content to score in 1s and 2s to rotate the strike for Deni to be more aggressive. Finally he found form in the season and striking 3 4s in a final total of 17 NO, the winning shot was a 4 struck to the square leg boundary, Carr was on 6 NO. The final total was 146 for 6, off 38 overs, a close game, but a well controlled batting performance saw the 2nd win of the season sealed for Methlick 2nds. Hopefully a strong performance all round which can be built on.
By Dave Chalmers