2XI Methlick Cricket vs Stoneywood-Dyce 12/08/2023

Methlick 2nds hosted Stoneywood Dyce on G3 business on Saturday the 12^th of August, a good day to be catching low flying objects! The ground was in fantastic condition, a hard pitch with significant cracks at the scorehut end in particular, a big factor in skipper Lewis Crutchfield’s decision to bat first upon winning the toss. Fielding a side weakened by call ups to 1sts, but enhanced by two enthusiastic debutants and a borrowed Broch player, Lewis sent out Ross Moir and Rob Fryer to open the batting on a cloudy day which would help the experienced Dyce opening bowling attack of Hood and Reid. Moir struggled to lay a bat on ball as Hood demonstrated why he plays Strathmore League cricket regularly. It was Reid who claimed the first scalp as Ross chipped tamely to mid-on where Hood was not missing the straightforward opportunity. Lewis joined Rob at the crease, but the partnership was extremely brief as Hood found a great delivery to take out the experienced batters leg stump.  Methlick were 2 for 2 off 2.2 overs, a far from ideal start.

Dod Duncan strode to the crease, in good recent form and looking to change the momentum of the innings alongside his skipper. It was Lewis who scored the first boundary of the day, a strong shot down the ground to the riverside boundary, finally the scorers had something to record. Dod took 10 off Reid's  3^rd over, with typically strong shots to the long on and long off boundaries, to take Methlick to a more respectable 22 off 6 overs. Hood was still a huge threat bowling from the scorehut end and got Lewis with a jaffa, pitching on middle stump and knocking the off stump out of the ground, nothing skipper could do, he walked with 7 to his name after a promising start. Deni Sarafimoski walked in with 3 balls to face from Hood, he struck a lusty 4 over cow corner, a new shot for the aussie!

With Dod and Deni at the crease, the scoreboard rarely stays still and today was no different, but sensibly the pair took to the weaker bowling of Reid for scoring opportunities, deciding to see off Hood who finished his 6 over opening spell with 2 maidens. Standing a foot out of his crease worked well for Dod in seeing the  dangerman off. As often happens in such situations, batters relax slightly when achieving such small targets, Dod missed a straight one from the 1^st change bowling of the wily Bruce Davidson, just as he looked set for a big score, out for 17, off stump knocked over.  Last weeks hero Graeme Fowlie was next batter in, hoping to maintain recent form, the hard work in the nets is obviously paying off. Circumspect in defence initially, he joined Deni in a strong but brief partnership, taking 27 off the next 5 overs. Deni was striking the ball brutally, striking five boundaries, including a big 6 off Perera, another Strathmore level bowler, over square leg. Perera got his revenge in his next over as he rearranged Deni’s stumps with the Methlick batter aiming for anywhere on leg-side! Deni walked off with 26 to his name, frustrated to miss a good opportunity for a really big score, but it would be the top score for the home side today. 

Brocher Dave Munro now joined Graeme at the crease, but was walking in reverse to the pavilion after tamely chipping new bowler Oriakhail to mid-off on the 2^nd ball faced. Dave Chalmers was next to the crease, looking for form in a disappointing season to date, he saw the Oriakhail over out without further travail. In only the 20th over, with 6 down, and 2 debutants amongst the remaining batters, the task was to bat as long as possible.  Dave and Graeme supported each other in setting and reaching small targets, taking runs as available, the youngster Madigan was the bowler to target. Dave taking 10 off his 3^rd over, including a massive 6 over the nets, ball lost. Perhaps it was a mistake to be so harsh as the promising young lefty bowler was immediately withdrawn to be replaced by the main strike bowler Hood.

Batting well out of his crease, Dave made the first ball from Hood into a full toss, a flick of the wrist saw the ball flash to the square leg boundary, the last such mistake Hood would make, he kept both batters well pinned down during his remaining 4 overs. Graeme was also batting out of his crease, defending solidly, attacking where possible, he hit a couple of boundaries through his long vigil at the crease. Having reached the 35 over mark and with Hood finished, a counter-attack was the strategy, it didn't last long as Dave flashed at a straight ball from Perera which missed the bat and clipped the off-stump bail. The long partnership was broken, Dave and Graeme batted for 18 overs, added 44 for the 7^th wicket and played with great skill and determination, giving virtually no chances in the face of a very strong bowling attack, it was a welcome return to form for the Turra man in particular. 

Gavin Hunter joined Graeme at the crease, getting off the mark streakily with a nick past slip, unfortunately that meant he faced the ever-tricky Davidson in the 38^th and what transpired to be, the final over. Gavin was clean bowled on ball 1, newcomer Brodie Atkinson bowled on ball 2, a horrible lack of communication saw the  2^nd newcomer, Arran Templeton hit the hattrick ball to square leg, but in his detailed briefing as the new batter arrived at the crease, Graeme forgot to tell his new partner to run after hitting the ball! Methlick had reached 116, a respectable total against such a strong bowling attack and difficult start to the innings.

Madigan, the keeper, and Perera were the batters to open the response for Dyce. Lewis took the new ball and ran in hard from the river end, bowling a maiden to start, Madigan content to defend and leave the ball. Graeme ran downhill from the scorehut end, generating good pace to concern Perera. A quiet opening period of the game saw Dyce reach 13 off 5 overs, in Lewis' 4^th over he drew a mistake from Madigan. The left hand, over the wicket, bowling line was always taking the ball away from the right-handed batter, he got a good nick to Dave Chalmers at slip who safely snaffled the ball, diving forwards and to his right, a fantastic catch, although the exaggerated roll after taking the catch was a bit of show-boating! Madigan was back at the scorehut without troubling the scoreboard. 

Lewis tried the spin of Dave Munro from the river end, looking to utilise the cracks in the pitch, but he struggled to find the correct length, the full tosses and long hops were easily despatched by both Perera and Davidson, the new batter. Ross Moir replaced him at the river end to better effect and gave a degree of control. Dod replaced Graeme at the scorehut end, but was very wayward on the day, forcing Lewis to return. Davidson and Perera were in complete control now, scoring almost at will, Perera in particular. In his 3^rd over, Ross scored a wee victory, taking the prized wicket of Perera, inducing an edge off the bat, Dave Chalmers took a second, but less spectacular catch, at 4^th slip to despatch the Dyce man to the scorehut. Perera had made 67 good runs, striking the ball all over the ground, taking on every bowler, it was the decisive innings of the game, taking Dyce close to victory.  Sinha replaced Perera and alongside Davidson took Dyce to a comfortable 8 wicket victory off only 22 overs.

It turned out to be a decent game of cricket, Methlick had 4 strong batting contributions in getting to a good total against 5 strong bowlers. Dave and Graeme showed how to bat a long time and that runs can be made, even against good bowlers. In the field, Lewis bowled well, as did Ross who is turning into an excellent fielder at point, saving a lot of runs on the day. Fielding was generally strong, and it was great to see Brodie and Arran do so well and with great energy and enthusiasm.  Dunecht away is next up for the seconds, need to get a strong team out.

By Dave Chalmers