Methlick 1st X1 vs Grampian 01.06.2024
Saturday’s visitors, Grampian, relegated from Grade 1 last year but looking like champions elect for Grade 2 this season, offered a big threat with the bat having scored in excess of 200 in most of this year’s matches. Methlick looked their strongest on paper this year, bolstered by Jon Barrett and Brian Veldsman on loan from Ellon. Adam Veersema returned from injury replacing Tom Acton and the scene was set for an exciting game at Lairds.
As it turned out it was more a game for the bowlers with both sides fielding strong attacks. Grampian batted first and scored over 4 an over from the first 10 with no loss of wickets, promising later acceleration and warning bells were sounding. After a fine opening spell from Grant and Moore we saw what had been missing all season with the return of the veteran farmer, Colin Addison, giving stealth and accuracy from his slow right arm drifters, and tight bowling from Mike Hordley, which provided the much needed first change pressure on the batting, building a stranglehold on the search for runs. Hordley bowled Varghese for 21 and Addison bowled Nadim in successive overs.
It was a day of excellent fielding from MCC with some excellent catches taken and 3 stumpings for Woodhouse with Grampian batsmen unable to pick the leg spin of Barrett and the slow in-duckers from Veldsman. A low score was on the cards for the grade leaders until the last few overs which saw excellent running between the wickets to lift the total to 161; well within reach of the Methlick batsmen but probably 25 runs more than where they should be..
As it so often happens, a strong line-up on paper doesn’t necessarily produce results on the field. Woodhouse and Barrett fell cheaply to some good bowling, and after Hordley’s last two heroic innings he was founbd out for 4. Smith reached a battling 12 until caught behind and Daniel Reeve and Grant Cordiner were both bowled without troubling the scorers.
It was Veldsman who provided any hope, starting circumspectly but building into his innings. Much was expected from the dependable Veersema but disaster struck when he too was out without adding much to the score. Addison was well run out going for a second and it was up to Fraser Grant to back up Veldsman who smashed the ball to all corners of Lairds. Unfortunately, his excellent unbeaten 74 was not enough to chase down the total and Methlick fell short by 30 runs.
So, a disappointing afternoon was bolstered by some signs of a return to form for MCC which is hoped will be taken into next week’s fixture at Lairds against Abercrombie Masterblasters. Thanks go to this week’s match ball sponsor, Karen Moore Business Support.
By Mark Woodhouse