Huntly 1st XI vs Methlick 1st XI 29.06.2024
Saturday saw the first team away to Huntly which was seen as a must win fixture with the home team only having one victory this season. Once again we saw a weakened batting line-up with a strong bowling attack. MCC were bolstered by the return of Tom Acton and Alasdair Smith, but losing out with the absence of Hordley and Veersema. With this in mind Captain Smith won the toss and put the opposition in to bat.
Dawar and Milne put on 32 for the first wicket until John Moore, stretching his legs with the grace of a ballerina, stopped an on-drive and the unlucky Milne was left stranded as she was run-out backing up by the bowler.
The opening bowling spell from Crutchfield and Acton was otherwise fruitless and Addison bowled his usual tidy spell taking 2 wickets for 12 off his 8 overs, but it was Moore who was the pick of the bowling taking a five-for from his two spells.
The youngster, Kennedy, top scored for Huntly with 53 until being run-out by a brilliant individual effort from the ginger panther, Acton, running in at speed with only one stump to aim at. Another good bowling spell from David Low shows hope for the future from the youngster.
The home innings finished on 137, surely a simple target to chase. Once again Woodhouse and Bremaneson opened the batting with run-out debacles never being far from the memory. The Sri Lankan tried his best to run himself out this week, imitating an overturned turtle and only managed to crawl into his crease when the bowler dropped the ball with the batsman at her mercy.
Acton disappointed coming in at number 3 with a softly chipped drive giving Huntly an easy catch and Acton a fine fora Golden Duck. After this there was a procession of poor shots with only Woodhouse top scoring with 38 and supported by Crutchfield for a season’s best of 23 as Methlick could only put on 123 to leave them 14 runs short for a poor return from the afternoon.
At Lairds Methlick 2nds came off second best to Stoneywood Dyce but this had been a much improved performance.
Our thanks go to Allan Hill for the match day ball sponsorship.
By Mark Woodhouse