Methlick 1st X1 vs Gordonians 22.06.2024
Despite early showers the rain managed to stay away as Gordonians visited Methlick on Saturday. Tom Acton, Fraser Grant and skipper Alasdair Smith, wasting his time in Germany, were all absent, so it was up to Mark Woodhouse to take over the captain’s role, winning the toss and deciding to bat.
Tactics were simple in seeing off the opening bowling for the later big-hitters to take advantage, as Woodhouse and Mike Bremanesen opened the batting with the former being the aggressor and the latter holding up an end. Things were working well as 50 came up in decent time, but disaster struck as the Sri Lankan king of the run-out delivered the first wicket to the opposition by running out Woodhouse on 36.
Bremanesen didn’t last much longer being bowled by the young leg-spinner, P.Gollakota, for 8. No problem however as the stage was set for the dependable Adam Veersema and this season’s run-machine, Mike Hordley. Unfortunately, Hordley lasted only 12 balls until caught for 5. Aussie, Veersema, continued to plunder runs at a good rate but started to run out of partners as Cordiner went for a golden duck and Addison was caught for 6. The best laid plans started to become undone as Veersema was bowled on 29 and Bryan Carr became another duck.
So, from a position of relative strength at 54 for the first wicket Methlick slumped to 102 for 7. John Moore became another contributor to the duck column, followed with yet another Golden from David Low. Jay Allan was unbeaten on 0 at the end meaning that the last 7 MCC batsmen only contributed 9 runs from the bat as the total reached a meagre 107 all out.
With such a small total to defend there was little for the bowlers to work with. Openers Moore and Crutchfield had a decent start as the Butch managed to bowl Shiv with a superb inswinger clipping the top of middle. The miserly bowling of the first changes put a lot of pressure on the Gordonian batsmen. Addison’s spell was wicketless but the first 6 overs only went for 8 runs. Hordley’s 8 overs brought 2 wickets for 11 but the visitors middle-order finally got in and ran the total down. Cordiner took a late wicket with an excellent over the shoulder crowd-pleasing catch by Allan but it was too late and Gordonians reached the required total for 4 wickets in the 33rd over.
So a disappointing afternoon for Methlick with a shortage of runs being the main culprit. Hopefully things can get back on a winning footing with a trip to Huntly.
Many thanks go to Saturday’s match sponsor; the reverent Grant Cordiner.
By Mark Woodhouse