Aberdeen Grammar FPs vs Methlick 1st X1 17.06.2023
Saturday saw Methlick travelling to Rubislaw with the onerous task of facing the top side in Grade 2 minus eight regular first team players. This was so disappointing after last week’s fine performance against Fraserburgh. The sun was beating down once again as stand-in skipper Woodhouse won the toss and chose to bat first alongside veteran Mike Bremanesen. Hopefully 40 overs in the field under the hot sun would act in the visitors’ favour.
The start was typically aggressive from Woodhouse but attempting a square cut from Poosappati he got the faintest of edges to be caught behind for 10. We then had a study in concentration from Bremanesen and Ross Moir who defended for the next 10 overs but only produced 10 more runs.
When Bremanesen was finally out for 5 in the sixteenth over the Grammar opening attack had been used up and this allowed Veersema freedom to hit out whilst being ably supported by Moir and the pair took the score on to 77 in the 29th over.
Jamie Jones came in after Moir went for 22 and played with his usual freedom if not slightly more circumspection than we have seen, and compiled a decent 27 when he was bowled by Javad with the score on 112. With six overs to go it was time to push the scoring along to set a decent target but disaster struck as Veersema fell to Javad for another fine jug-avoiding innings of 47. This exposed the long tail and despite two big boundaries from Deni Serafimoski, when runs were needed the batting fell short and a score of only 138 was posted.
For the Grammar innings the experienced batting of Alex Keith and captain Haider had little problem getting the required runs in only 19 overs. Success came from Fraser Grant taking two wickets but the result could have been so much more interesting had a simple catch off Keith was taken when he was only on 20 and such an obvious LBW had been given against Haider at the start of his innings. Both batsmen went on to score half centuries but Methlick were never able to test the strength of the lower Grammar batting.
Hopefully next Saturday will see a return to winning ways as Methlick take on 2nd Abergreen at Lairds having already beaten them in the away fixture. The 2nds return to action with an away fixture to Counteswells against Gordonians.
This week’s match ball was kindly sponsored by John and Karen Moore.
By Mark Woodhouse